FLOATING GATE MEMORY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTED PROGRAMMING THEREOF

A method of creating a reverse breakdown condition in an array of memory cells arranged in columns and rows in the array, and an array structure are provided. The method comprises the steps of applying a first voltage on a first column connection coupling a first column of said cells, and a second voltage on a second column connection coupling a second column of said cells; and applying a third voltage on a first row connection coupling a first row of said cells, and applying said second voltage on a second row connection coupling a second row of said cells. In this aspect, the difference between the first voltage and the third voltage creates said reverse breakdown condition in at least one cell occupying said first column and first row. In a further aspect, each cell includes a floating gate and the method of the invention includes the step of programming one of said cells by coupling a control voltage to each floating gate. The structure includes a substrate having formed therein at least an Nth or Mth row-wise oriented well, each well isolated from adjacent ones of said wells. Also provided are at least an Nth and Mth word bit line formed by an Nth and Mth impurity regions in said substrate and at least an Nth and Mth array control gate lines. A plurality of memory cells, each cell formed in at least said Nth or Mth row-wise well, is further provided. Each cell comprises a drain, a floating gate, a drain connection one of said Nth or Mth word bit line (WBL), and a substrate well connection to one of said Nth or Mth wells, and a control gate connection to one of said Nth or Mth array control gate lines(ACG).