Patent ID: 7501200

Claim:
An electrode assembly, comprising: a negative electrode including a negative electrode starting portion, a negative electrode coated portion, and negative electrode active material, the negative electrode starting portion having a negative electrode tab, the negative electrode coated portion starting from and extending from the negative electrode starting portion, both sides of the negative electrode starting portion being not coated with the negative electrode active material, at least one plane of the negative electrode coated portion being coated with the negative electrode active material; a positive electrode including a positive electrode starting portion, a positive electrode coated portion, and positive electrode active material, the positive electrode starting portion having a positive electrode tab, the positive electrode coated portion starting from and extending from the positive electrode starting portion, both sides of the positive electrode starting portion being not coated with the positive electrode active material, at least one plane of the positive electrode coated portion being coated with the positive electrode active material, the positive electrode tab being spaced a predetermined distance apart from the negative electrode tab; a separator being disposed between said positive and negative electrodes and providing electrical insulation, a stack of the negative electrode, the separator, and the positive electrode being formed into a wound structure by winding the stack of the negative electrode, the separator, and the positive electrode around both of the negative electrode tab and the positive electrode tab, the negative electrode coated portion starting at a portion not aligned with a portion where the positive electrode coated portion starts and starting at a portion not aligned with a portion where the positive electrode coated portion terminates; and an electrolytic solution impregnating the wound structure.