Semiconductor storage device, display device and portable electronic equipment

A semiconductor storage device comprising a memory cell array having a plurality of memory elements, and a program verify circuit for controlling application of programming voltages into the plurality of memory elements, wherein

• each of the memory elements comprises:
• a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor layer via a gate insulator;
• a channel region arranged below the gate electrode via the gate insulator;
• diffusion regions which are arranged on opposite sides of the channel region and which have a conductive type opposite to that of the channel region;
• and
• memory function bodies which are formed on opposite sides of the gate electrode and which have a function of retaining electric charge or polarization, and wherein
• the program verify circuit comprises:
• a comparator for comparing a current state of each memory element being programmed with a state to which the memory element is to be programmed;
• and
• a program load circuit which is connected to the comparator and which stores, for each memory element, a value outputted from the comparator and indicating whether or not the memory element should be further programmed,
• the program load circuit including a circuit for, once the memory element has initially been verified by the comparator as having been programmed, precluding storing for each memory element a value indicating that the memory element needs to be further programmed.