Patent 8071233 was granted and assigned to BOSTON-POWER, INC. on December, 2011 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A battery comprises a first terminal in electrical communication with a first electrode of the battery, a second terminal in electrical communication with a second electrode of the battery, a battery can electrically insulated from the first terminal, and at least one current interrupt device in electrical communication with the battery can. The battery can includes a cell casing and a lid which are in electrical communication with each other. At least a portion of the battery can is at least a component of the second terminal, or is electrically connected to the second terminal. The current interrupt device includes a first conductive plate in electrical communication with the second electrode, and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate. The second conductive plate separates from the first conductive plate when pressure inside the battery is greater than a predetermined value, whereby a current flow between the second electrode and the second terminal is interrupted.