Patent ID: 8173288

Claim:
A secondary battery, comprising: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, said electrode assembly having at least one curved end region and a flat middle region connected to said at least one curved region in which said at least one curved end region is wider than said flat middle region; a case adapted to house the electrode assembly; a cap assembly adapted to be attached to the case to seal the case, the cap assembly including at least one terminal exposed outside of the case; and at least one lead element adapted to electrically connect the electrode assembly to the at least one terminal; wherein the electrode assembly includes an uncoated region in said at least one curved end region and said flat middle region having an absence of an active material; and wherein the at least one lead element has a configuration corresponding to that of the uncoated region and is adapted to be closely affixed to and following the contour of the uncoated region of both said at least one curved end region and said flat middle region.