Method and circuit for simultaneously programming and verifying the programming of selected EEPROM cells

A method of programming a plurality EEPROM cells, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing appropriate voltages, sufficient to program a first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells, to a control gate, a drain electrode, and a source electrode of each cell of said first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells;
• (b) sensing a current flowing between said drain and source electrodes of each cell of said first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells, and comparing said sensed current for each cell of said first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells against a reference current, wherein said reference current is greater than an expected current level for each cell of said first set of plurality of EEPROM cells after each cell of said first set of plurality of EEPROM cells is programmed and less than an expected current level for each cell of said first set of plurality of EEPROM cells before each cell of said first set of plurality of EEPROM cells is programmed;
• and
• (c) disconnecting said drain electrode of each cell of said first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells from said appropriate voltages when said sensed current for that EEPROM cell is falling and becomes less than or equal to said reference current, and generating a programming completion signal after the sensed current for all of said first set of said plurality of EEPROM cells has fallen and become less than or equal to said reference current.