Low voltage, island-layer-based nonvolatile semiconductor storage device with floating biased memory cell channel

Abstract

A method for driving a nonvolatile memory device including a semiconductor substrate, an island semiconductor layer on the substrate, a memory cell having a control gate and a charge storage layer surrounding a peripheral surface of the island semiconductor layer, a first selection transistor provided between the memory cell and the substrate and having a first selection gate, a source diffusion layer between the substrate and the island semiconductor layer, a drain diffusion layer provided in an opposing end of the island semiconductor layer from the source diffusion layer, and a second selection transistor provided between the memory cell and the drain diffusion layer and having a second selection gate, the method comprising the steps of: applying a negative first voltage to the drain and the first selection gate, applying a positive second voltage to the second selection gate, and applying 0V or a positive third voltage to the source; and applying a positive fourth voltage higher than the second voltage to the control gate of the memory cell for injecting electric charges into the charge storage layer.