Patent ID: 7491466

Claim:
A rechargeable battery comprising at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell and at least three power output terminals, wherein: the battery has a first end, a second end, a side wall disposed between the first and second ends, a height, and a width that is smaller than the height; an electrically nonconductive covering is disposed on at least a portion of the side wall of the battery and on a peripheral portion of the first end; a first end power output terminal having a polarity is disposed on the first end of the battery and comprises a longitudinal projection beyond the battery side wall; a second end power output terminal having a polarity opposite that of the first end terminal is disposed on the second end of the battery, the second end terminal optionally having a longitudinal projection beyond the battery side wall, the optional projection having a minimum width beyond the side wall that is larger than a minimum width of the first end terminal projection beyond the side wall; and an exposed, recessed first side power output terminal having a polarity the same as that of the second end terminal is disposed on the side wall of the battery; wherein a portion of the first side terminal is disposed equidistant between longitudinally distal edges of the battery side wall.