Patent ID: 7150768

Claim:
A method of assembling an electrochemical cell comprising a plurality of anode plates and a plurality of cathode plates in a stack, each plate comprising a layer of a respective ion insertion material bonded to a respective metal current collector, those plates not at the ends of the stack comprising such layers bonded to both major surfaces of the current collector, and each plate being of generally rectangular shape with a projecting tab integral with the current collector, said method comprising the steps of forming a stack consisting of discrete, separate cathode plates and discrete, separate anode plates stacked alternately with a continuous separator/electrolyte layer interleaved between successive plates so it forms a zigzag, and with the tabs projecting from the stack, the stack being formed by repeatedly placing only one of the plates on the stack, and then folding the separator/electrolyte layer over it, and subsequently forming electrical connections between the tabs on all the cathode plates and between the tabs on all the anode plates.