Patent ID: 8557430

Claim:
A rechargeable battery, comprising: an electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates, each of which includes an electrode uncoated portion, and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates, the electrode assembly having a direction; and at least one current collector plate, each current collector plate contacting one of the electrode uncoated portions of the first and second electrode plates, wherein each current collector plate includes: a base portion and a side portion, the side portion extending toward each electrode uncoated portion of the electrode assembly from peripheral edges of the base portion, a protrusion protruding toward the electrode assembly from the base portion and having a contact portion contacting one of the electrode uncoated portions, the contact portion of the protrusion being a first surface of the protrusion, and the first surface of the protrusion facing the separator in the electrode assembly, a slit in the contact portion extending through the side portion and disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the electrode assembly, and a laser welding line in the first surface of the protrusion surrounding the slit.