Patent ID: 7960049

Claim:
A rechargeable lithium battery comprising an electrode assembly comprising: a positive electrode having a first side and a second side and comprising a positive current collector partially coated with a positive active material to form a positive coated region, and a positive uncoated region wherein both the first side and the second side are absent the positive active material; a negative electrode having a third side and a fourth side and comprising a negative current collector partially coated with a negative active material to form a negative coated region, and a negative uncoated region wherein both the third side and the fourth side are absent the negative active material; and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the electrode assembly lacks a center pin and is spirally wound a plurality of times with the positive uncoated region and the negative uncoated region together forming a core central to the spirally-wound electrode assembly and wound from 3 to 15 times.