Patent ID: 7425385

Claim:
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: an electrode group in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween; and a non-aqueous electrolyte, said positive electrode plate comprising a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode material mixture layer carried on said positive electrode current collector, said negative electrode plate comprising a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode material mixture layer carried on said negative electrode current collector, wherein said positive electrode plate has at least one exposed portion of said positive electrode current collector, wherein said negative electrode plate has at least one exposed portion of said negative electrode current collector, and wherein a metal is provided on a surface of said exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector facing said exposed portion of the negative electrode current collector, wherein said metal dissolves into said non-aqueous electrolyte when the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined level.