METHOD OF PROGRAMMING A NON-VOLATILE MEMORY CELL USING A VERTICAL ELECTRIC FIELD

A method of programming a memory cell with a substrate that includes a first region and a second region with a channel therebetween and a gate above the channel, and a charge trapping region that contains a first amount of charge. The method includes applying a lateral electric field within the channel that generates a depletion layer that has electrons at a bottom portion of the depletion layer and applying a vertical electric field within the channel that has a sufficient strength so that the electrons at the bottom portion of the depletion layer are injected into the charge trapping region.