Rechargeable battery

Abstract

A rechargeable battery includes: a shell that receives an electrode assembly and includes an opening; a cover assembly that includes a cover plate coupled to the shell to cover the opening and a terminal plate thermally fused to the cover plate by a hot-melt member that electrically insulates the cover plate and the terminal plate from each other; and a sealing portion that is attached to and located on a side surface of the hot-melt member, a side surface of the terminal plate, and an outer surface of the cover plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to rechargeable batteries. Background Art

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, which cannot be recharged, rechargeable batteries can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries are used in portable small electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders. Large-capacity batteries are widely used as power sources for driving motors such as for hybrid vehicles.

[0003] Representative rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, lithium (Li) batteries, and lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries. In particular, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have an operating voltage about three times higher than that of nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries, which are mainly used as power sources for portable electronic devices. In addition, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are widely used because of their high energy density per unit weight.

[0004] In particular, as the demand for wearable devices such as headphones using Bluetooth, in-ear headphones, smart watches, and body-attached medical devices increases, the demand for rechargeable batteries that are high in energy density and ultra-small is increasing.

[0005] An ultra-small rechargeable battery has important tasks of securing a required electric capacity within a limited size, achieving an effective structure while improving effective low weight, and improving structural stability.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ultra-small rechargeable battery. According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a rechargeable battery that prevents or substantially prevents a heat-melting member from being damaged when attaching a terminal plate and a cap plate in an electrically insulating state.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, a rechargeable battery includes: a shell that receives an electrode assembly and includes an opening; a cover assembly that includes a cover plate connected to the shell to cover the opening and a terminal plate thermally fused to the cover plate by a hot melt member that electrically insulates the cover plate and the terminal plate from each other; and a sealing portion that is attached to and located on a side surface of the hot melt member, a side surface of the terminal plate, and an outer surface of the cover plate.

[0009] The sealing portion may include a portion of the hot melt member, the portion of the hot melt member protruding beyond the side surface of the terminal plate.

[0010] The sealing portion may be formed of an ultraviolet (UV) hardener coating. The UV hardener coating may be formed on the side surface of the hot melt member, the side surface of the terminal plate, and the outer surface of the cap plate.

[0011] The rechargeable battery may further include an outer case covering the cap plate and coupled to the case, and an outer surface of the terminal plate may protrude further than an outer surface of the outer case to have a height difference.

[0012] The sealing portion may extend along the outer surface of the cover plate to an inner end of a through hole formed in the housing.

[0013] The sealing portion can increase a first moisture permeation path formed between the terminal plate and the hot melt member by a portion formed on the side surface of the terminal plate, and increase a second moisture permeation path formed between the hot melt member and the cover plate by a portion formed between the outer surface of the cover plate and the sealing portion.

[0014] The terminal plate may include: a flange portion, which is on the outer surface of the cover plate and is electrically insulated from and attached to the outer surface of the cover plate; and a tab connecting portion, which protrudes from the center of the flange portion to protrude toward the electrode assembly through the terminal hole of the cover plate and the through hole of the hot melt member, and is connected to the electrode tab of the electrode assembly at the inner surface of the terminal plate.

[0015] The sealing portion may be formed on the side surface of the hot melt member, the side surface of the flange portion, and the outer surface of the cover plate.

[0016] As described above, in a rechargeable battery according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a sealing portion is formed and attached to the side surface of the hot melt member, the side surface of the terminal plate and the outer surface of the cover plate, a first moisture permeation path formed between the terminal plate and the hot melt member and a second moisture permeation path formed between the hot melt member and the cover plate are long, and micro short circuits caused by moisture permeation can be thereby prevented or substantially prevented.

[0017] That is, the sealing part can effectively prevent moisture leakage in the hot melt member. Therefore, damage to the hot melt member caused by repeated micro short circuits can be prevented or substantially prevented, thereby improving the reliability of the rechargeable battery under high temperature and high humidity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery in FIG.

[0020] Figure 3 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

[0021] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Description of Reference Numerals

[0023] 1, 2: Rechargeable battery 10: Electrode assembly

[0024] 11: First electrode 12: Second electrode

[0025] 13: Partition 14: Insulation sheet

[0026] 20: Shell 21: Opening

[0027] 31: Cover plate 34: Hot melt component

[0028] 35, 36: Sealing part 40: Housing

[0029] 41: plane part 42: side part

[0030] 51: first electrode terminal tab 52: second electrode terminal tab

[0031] 60: Cover assembly 61: Insulation member

[0032] 63: Terminal board 101: First end

[0033] 102: second end 301: exposed surface

[0034] 311: Terminal hole 341: Through hole

[0035] 411: Through hole 631: Flange

[0036] 632: Lug connection portion D: Battery diameter (second diameter)

[0037] D3: First diameter H: Height

[0038] P1: expansion part P2: non-expansion part

[0039] Pt1, Pt3: First moisture permeation path

[0040] Pt2, Pt4: Second moisture permeation path

[0041] Pt5: Connection path ΔH: Height difference DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present invention will be more fully described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some example embodiments of the present invention are shown. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the described embodiments may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. The accompanying drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and non-restrictive in nature. Similar reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the specification.

[0043] In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, it should be understood that terms such as "include", "comprises" or "has" used in this specification indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts and / or their combinations, but do not preclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or their combinations.

[0044] Further, in the present specification, it should be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other component or connected or coupled to the other component with one or more other components interposed therebetween.

[0045] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular forms shall include plural forms.

[0046] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element may be referred to as a "second" element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a "first" element without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, a term in the singular may include a plural form.

[0047] In addition, terms such as "below", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. are used to describe the relationship of the configurations shown in the drawings. However, these terms are used as relative concepts and are described with reference to the directions indicated in the drawings.

[0048] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the inventive concept belongs. It should also be understood that terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this article.

[0049] The rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is an ultra-compact battery, which may be a coin battery or a button battery. Here, the coin battery or button battery is a thin coin-type battery or a button-type battery, and refers to a battery having a height (H) to diameter (D) ratio (H / D) of 1 or less (see Figure 1 ).

[0050] In one embodiment, the coin cell or button cell is generally cylindrical and the horizontal cross section is circular, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the horizontal cross section may be elliptical or polygonal. In this case, the diameter is determined as the maximum distance of the outer circumference of the shell (or housing) based on the horizontal direction of the battery, and the height is determined as the maximum distance based on the vertical direction of the battery (the distance from the bottom to the top cross section).

[0051] However, the present invention is not limited to the coin cell or button cell as an example of the present invention, and the battery of the present invention may be a cylindrical battery or a pin-type battery. Herein, the case where the rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is a coin cell or a button cell will be further described in detail as an example.

[0052] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery in FIG. Figure 3 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. Figures 1 to 3 , a rechargeable battery 1 according to an embodiment includes an electrode assembly 10, a case 20, a cap assembly 60, and a sealing part 35. In addition, the rechargeable battery 1 may further include an outer case 40.

[0053] The cap assembly 60 includes the cap plate 31 and the terminal plate 63 which are combined together. As an example, the cap plate 31 and the terminal plate 63 are heat-fused by the heat-melting member 34 provided therebetween.

[0054] The hot melt member 34 serves as a medium to connect the cap plate 31 and the terminal plate 63 to each other. In an embodiment, for example, the hot melt member 34 may be formed of an electrically insulating material such as a polymer, and may be melted using a laser or the like to be fused to the cap plate 31 and the terminal plate 63.

[0055] In an embodiment, by coupling the terminal plate 63 to the cap plate 31 using the heat-melting member 34 , a stable coupling structure can be formed while effectively insulating between the terminal plate 63 and the cap plate 31 without adding a separate insulating configuration.

[0056] Since the coin cell is manufactured in an ultra-compact size, it may have design limitations in terms of space, and accordingly, it is desired to ensure functionality while simplifying its structure and manufacturing process. In this regard, in one embodiment, insulation and connection between the terminal plate 63 and the cap plate 31 are achieved by a hot melt member 34.

[0057] In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 10 includes a first electrode 11 (e.g., a negative electrode) and a second electrode 12 (e.g., a positive electrode) provided on respective sides of a separator 13 as an electrical insulating material, and the electrode assembly 10 is formed by winding the first electrode 11, the separator 13, and the second electrode 12. Therefore, the electrode assembly 10 may be formed in a jelly roll type. In one embodiment, although not separately shown, the electrode assembly may be formed in a stacked type.

[0058] The electrode assembly 10 is configured to be charged and discharged, and the winding axis of the electrode assembly 10 may be arranged to be parallel to the height direction ( Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, the first end (the lower surface of the electrode assembly) 101 and the second end (the upper surface of the electrode assembly) 102 of the electrode assembly 10 may be flat and parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 10 is not provided with a center pin, but a center pin (not shown) may be provided at the position of the winding axis.

[0059] The case 20 accommodates the electrode assembly 10 while facing the first end 101 of the electrode assembly 10. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 10 is covered by the insulating sheet 14 and built in the case 20. As an example, the case 20 is formed as a cylinder accommodating the jelly roll type electrode assembly 10, and the cap assembly 60 seals the opening 21 of the cylindrical case 20.

[0060] The electrode assembly 10 includes a first electrode tab 51 connected to the first electrode 11 and a second electrode tab 52 connected to the second electrode 12 , and the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are led out at a first end 101 and a second end 102 , respectively.

[0061] In a state where the electrode assembly 10 is accommodated in the case 20 , the first electrode tab 51 is electrically connected to the bottom of the case 20 , and the second electrode tab 52 is electrically connected to the terminal plate 63 of the cap assembly 60 .

[0062] Furthermore, the cap plate 31 of the cap assembly 60 is coupled to the case 20 to cover the opening 21 while facing the second end 102 of the electrode assembly 10. In this way, the terminal plate 63 is coupled to the second electrode tab 52 while being coupled to the cap plate 31 with the heat-melting member 34.

[0063] Here, a case where the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are a negative electrode and a positive electrode, respectively, will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 may be a positive electrode and a negative electrode, respectively.

[0064] In one embodiment, the first electrode (negative electrode) 11 is formed into a long extended strip shape and includes a negative electrode coating portion and a negative electrode uncoated portion, the negative electrode coating portion is a region where a current collector of a metal foil (e.g., a copper foil) is coated with a negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode uncoated portion is a region where an active material is not coated. In one embodiment, the negative electrode uncoated portion may be disposed at an end portion in the length direction of the negative electrode.

[0065] In one embodiment, the second electrode (positive electrode) 12 is formed into a long extended strip shape and includes a positive electrode coated portion and a positive electrode uncoated portion, the positive electrode coated portion is a region where the current collector of the metal foil (e.g., aluminum foil) is coated with a positive electrode active material layer, and the positive electrode uncoated portion is a region where the active material is not coated. In one embodiment, the positive electrode uncoated portion may be disposed at an end portion in the length direction of the positive electrode.

[0066] The case 20 allows the electrode assembly 10 to be inserted into an opening 21 formed at one side of the case 20, and has a space for accommodating the electrode assembly 10 and an electrolyte therein. In one embodiment, for example, the case 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a height H smaller than its diameter D, and has a circular opening 21 for inserting the cylindrical electrode assembly 10 corresponding to the internal space of the case 20.

[0067] The terminal plate 63 of the cap assembly 60 includes a flange portion 631 and a tab connection portion 632. The flange portion 631 is disposed at the outer side of the cap plate 31 and is electrically insulated from and attached to the outer surface of the cap plate 31.

[0068] The housing 40 is provided to prevent or substantially prevent reverse insertion when assembling the rechargeable battery 1 into a set. As an example, the housing 40 covers the cover plate 31 and is coupled to the housing 20 to form an expansion portion P1 in the rechargeable battery 1. In one embodiment, on the cover plate 31, a portion of the outer surface is covered by the flange portion 631, and a flat surface (exposed surface, 301) of the remaining portion of the outer surface is covered by the housing 40.

[0069] In the terminal plate 63 , the tab connection portion 632 protrudes from the center of the flange portion 631 to the inside, and passes through the through hole 341 of the hot melt member 34 and the terminal hole 311 of the cover plate 31 to protrude toward the electrode assembly 10 , and the second electrode tab 52 is electrically connected to the inner surface of the tab connection portion 632 .

[0070] In one embodiment, the flange portion 631 protrudes more than the outer surface of the housing 40 by a height difference ΔH to form the outer surface of the rechargeable battery 1. In other words, the outer surface of the flange portion 631 protrudes more than the outer surface of the cap plate 31 relative to the bottom of the case 20. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the flange portion 631 and the outer surface of the housing 40 form a plane that is spaced apart from each other in the diameter direction while having a height difference ΔH.

[0071] For example, the outer shell 40 includes a plane portion 41 and a side portion 42. The plane portion 41 has a through hole 411 and is configured to cover the exposed surface 301 of the outer surface of the cap plate 31 while exposing the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63. The side portion 42 extends along the side of the case 20 outside the plane portion 41 to cover a part of the side of the case 20 and is coupled to the side of the case 20. In the rechargeable battery 1, the portion combined with the outer shell 40 forms an expansion portion P1, and the portion without the outer shell 40 forms a non-expansion portion P2.

[0072] Accordingly, the housing 40 covers the exposed surface 301 of the cover plate 31 and is coupled to the housing 20, thereby forming an expansion portion P1. That is, the housing 40 forms a step at the side surface of the housing 20 through the expansion portion P1. The expansion portion P1 relatively increases in height or diameter compared to the non-expansion portion P2.

[0073] In one embodiment, in the case 20, the outer shell 40 is not coupled to the lower portion, thereby having a first diameter D3 between the outer sides in the diameter direction of the case 20. The outer shell 40 is attached to the upper portion of the case 20 and defines a second diameter (same as the battery diameter D) between the outer sides of the outer shell 40 in the diameter direction. The second diameter D is set to be larger than the first diameter D3. Therefore, there is a difference in diameter between the upper and lower portions of the rechargeable battery 1.

[0074] In one embodiment, the housing 40 may be formed of an electrically insulating material to prevent or substantially prevent an electrical short circuit between the outer surface of the flange portion 631 and the outer surface of the cover plate 31. For example, the housing 40 may be formed of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin or rubber. Although not shown, any suitable synthetic resin or electrically insulating material may be applied to the housing 40.

[0075] The insulating member 61 is disposed on an upper side of the second electrode tab 52 and attached to an inner surface of the cap plate 31. The insulating member 61 may form an electrical insulation structure between the cap plate 31 and the second electrode tab 52 and between the cap plate 31 and the electrode assembly 10.

[0076] As an example, the insulating member 61 has a through hole 611 corresponding to the terminal hole 311 of the cap plate 31. Therefore, the tab connection portion 632 protrudes from the center of the flange portion 631 to the inside to protrude toward the electrode assembly 10 through the terminal hole 311 of the cap plate 31 and the through hole 611 of the insulating member 61, and is electrically connected to the second electrode tab 52 at the inner surface of the tab connection portion 632.

[0077] The insulating member 61 and the insulating sheet 14 electrically insulate both sides of the second electrode tab 52 from the cap plate 31 and the second end 102 of the electrode assembly 10, respectively. The insulating sheet 14 electrically insulates the first electrode tab 51 from the first end 101 of the electrode assembly 10.

[0078] See also Figure 1 In the rechargeable battery 1 of an embodiment, the height H is defined as the distance between the outer plane of the housing 20 and the flange portion 631 in a state where the opening 21 of the housing 20 is closed and sealed by the cap assembly 60, and the battery diameter D is defined by the outer circumference of the housing 40. In an embodiment, the ratio of the height H to the battery diameter D is 1 or less (H / D≤1). Therefore, the rechargeable battery 1 of the embodiment is a coin-type battery or a button-type battery, and can be formed into a thin coin or button shape.

[0079] In one embodiment, the sealing portion 35 is attached to and formed on the side surface of the hot melt member 34, the side surface of the terminal plate 63, and the outer surface of the cover plate 31. That is, the sealing portion 35 may be further formed on the remaining portion of the exposed surface 301 of the cover plate 31 after the housing 40 is coupled. In one embodiment, the sealing portion 35 is formed on the side surface of the hot melt member 34, the side surface of the flange portion 631, and the outer surface of the cover plate 31.

[0080] The sealing portion 35 is connected to the hot melt member 34 and includes or is formed of a portion of the hot melt member 34 that protrudes beyond the side surface of the terminal plate 63. That is, the sealing portion 35 is formed integrally with the hot melt member 34.

[0081] In one embodiment, for example, a hot-melt material made of polypropylene (PP) may be disposed between the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 and the cover plate 31, and a clamp (not shown) may be installed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the cover plate 31, and then the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 may be pressed to form a hot-melt member 34.

[0082] In addition, at the same time as the hot melt member 34 is formed, the sealing portion 35 protrudes to the outside, and is integrally formed and attached to the side surface of the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 and the outer surface of the cap plate 31 .

[0083] In one embodiment, the sealing portion 35 extends along the outer surface of the cap plate 31 to the inner end of the through hole 411 formed in the housing 40. Therefore, the sealing portion 35 increases the first and second moisture permeation paths Pt1 and Pt2 through the hot melt member 34.

[0084] That is, the first moisture permeation path Pt1 is formed between the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 and the hot melt member 34 , and the sealing portion 35 increases the first moisture permeation path Pt1 by a portion formed on the side surface of the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 .

[0085] The second moisture permeation path Pt2 is formed between the cap plate 31 and the hot melt member 34 , and the sealing portion 35 increases the second moisture permeation path Pt2 by a portion formed between the outer surface of the cap plate 31 and the sealing portion 35 .

[0086] The first moisture permeation path Pt1 and the second moisture permeation path Pt2 further prevent or substantially prevent moisture leakage through the hot melt member 34 through the sealing portion 35, and damage to the hot melt member 34 caused by the occurrence of a micro short circuit caused by moisture leakage can be prevented or substantially prevented. Accordingly, the reliability of the rechargeable battery 1 under high temperature and high humidity can be improved.

[0087] Here, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Description of the same configuration as the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted, and different configurations will be mainly described in the following embodiment.

[0088] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 In the rechargeable battery 2 of another embodiment, the sealing portion 36 may include or be formed of an ultraviolet (UV) hardener coating. The sealing portion 36, that is, the UV hardener coating, is formed on the side surface of the hot melt member 34, the side surface of the flange portion 631, and the outer surface of the cap plate 31. Therefore, the sealing portion 36 increases the first moisture permeation path Pt3 and the second moisture permeation path Pt4 passing through the hot melt member 34.

[0089] That is, the first moisture permeation path Pt3 is formed between the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 and the hot melt member 34 , and the seal portion 36 increases the first moisture permeation path Pt3 by a portion formed on the side surface of the flange portion 631 of the terminal plate 63 .

[0090] The second moisture permeation path Pt4 is formed between the cap plate 31 and the heat-melt member 34 , and the seal portion 36 increases the second moisture permeation path Pt4 by a portion formed between the outer surface of the cap plate 31 and the seal portion 36 .

[0091] The first moisture permeation path Pt3 and the second moisture permeation path Pt4 further prevent or substantially prevent moisture leakage through the hot melt member 34 by the sealing portion 36, and damage to the hot melt member 34 caused by the occurrence of a micro short circuit caused by moisture leakage can be prevented or substantially prevented. The reliability of the rechargeable battery 2 under high temperature and high humidity can be improved.

[0092] Furthermore, the sealing portion 36 connects the first and second moisture permeation paths Pt3 and Pt4 to each other using the path Pt5 to connect at the connection portion of the side surface of the hot melt member 34 , and therefore, the first and second moisture permeation paths Pt3 and Pt4 can be further increased.

[0093] While the present invention has been described in conjunction with what are presently considered to be some practical example embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the purview of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery, include: a housing receiving the electrode assembly and including an opening; a cap assembly including a cap plate coupled to the case to cover the opening and a terminal plate thermally fused to the cap plate by a hot melt member, the hot melt member electrically insulating the cap plate and the terminal plate from each other, the cap plate including an inner surface facing the electrode assembly and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; and a sealing portion attached to and located on a side surface of the hot melt member in a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the rechargeable battery, a side surface of the terminal plate in the direction perpendicular to the height direction of the rechargeable battery, and a portion of the outer surface of the cap plate; The sealing portion increases a first moisture permeation path formed between the terminal plate and the hot melt member by a portion formed on the side surface of the terminal plate, and increases a second moisture permeation path formed between the hot melt member and the cover plate by a portion formed between the outer surface of the cover plate and the sealing portion. 2 . The rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion includes a portion of the heat melt member, the portion of the heat melt member protruding beyond the side surface of the terminal plate. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion comprises a UV hardener coating. 4 . The rechargeable battery according to claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet hardener coating is located on the side surface of the hot melt member, the side surface of the terminal plate, and the portion of the outer surface of the cap plate.

5. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, further comprising a housing covering the cap plate and coupled to the housing, and An outer surface of the terminal plate protrudes further than an outer surface of the housing to have a height difference. 6 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the sealing portion extends along the outer surface of the cap plate to an inner end of a through hole formed in the outer case.

7. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the terminal plate include: a flange portion on the outer surface of the cover plate and electrically insulated from and attached to the outer surface of the cover plate; and A tab connection portion protrudes from the center of the flange portion to protrude toward the electrode assembly through the terminal hole of the cap plate and the through hole of the heat-melting member, and is connected to an electrode tab of the electrode assembly at an inner surface of the terminal plate. 8 . The rechargeable battery according to claim 7 , wherein the sealing portion is formed on the side surface of the hot melt member, the side surface of the flange portion, and the portion of the outer surface of the cap plate.

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