Patent attributes
In an EEPROM consisting of a NAND cell in which a plurality of memory cells are connected in series, the control gate voltage Vread of the memory cell in a block selected by the data read operation is made different from the each of the voltages Vsg1, Vsg2 of the select gate of the select transistor in the selected block so as to make it possible to achieve a high speed reading without bringing about the breakdown of the insulating film interposed between the select gate and the channel of the select transistor. The high speed reading can also be made possible in the DINOR cell, the AND cell, NOR cell and the NAND cell having a single memory cell connected thereto, if the control gate voltage of the memory cell is made different from the voltage of the select gate of the select transistor.