Patent ID: 7790311

Claim:
A rechargeable battery, comprising: an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a case to house the electrode assembly; a cap assembly to seal the case; a positive terminal and a negative terminal positioned in the cap assembly and coupled with the electrode assembly; a first lead element coupled with the electrode assembly and the positive terminal; and a second lead element coupled with the electrode assembly and the negative terminal, wherein the positive electrode and negative electrode comprise an uncoated region that is not laminated and not coated with positive active material and negative active material, respectively, and wherein the first lead element comprises a first portion extending from the positive terminal to a first point on the electrode assembly, and a second portion extending around at least half of a circumference of the electrode assembly, the entire second portion of the first lead element directly contacting the uncoated region of the positive electrode on the at least half of the circumference, the second portion of the first lead element having a first plurality of welding points to weld the second portion of the first lead element to the uncoated region of the positive electrode, the first plurality of welding points being spaced apart from one another, a number of the first plurality of welding points being determined by an area of the uncoated region of the positive electrode, and wherein the second lead element comprises a first portion extending from the negative terminal to a first point on the electrode assembly, and a second portion extending around at least half of the circumference of the electrode assembly, the entire second portion of the second lead element directly contacting the uncoated region of the negative electrode on the at least half of the circumference, the second portion of the second lead element having a second plurality of welding points to weld the second portion of the second lead element to the uncoated region of the negative electrode, the second plurality of welding points being spaced apart from one another, a number of the second plurality of welding points being determined by an area of the uncoated region of the negative electrode.