NOVELTY - The battery (300) has an electrode assembly accommodated in a case (11). A cap plate (12) is coupled with the case. A protection circuit board (40) is coupled with the cap plate and electrically connected with a first electrode of the electrode assembly. A protection element is coupled with the cap plate, and electrically couples a second electrode of the electrode assembly with the protection circuit board. The cap plate and the protection element are electrically connected with the second electrode of the electrode assembly. The protection element includes two protrusion parts.    USE - Rechargeable battery i.e. low capacity rechargeable battery, for a small portable electronic device such as mobile phone, laptop computer and camcorder. Can also be used for a large capacity battery that is used as a power source for driving a motor of a hybrid vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The protection circuit board and the second electrode of the of electrode assembly can be electrically connected only by the protection element without using another structure e.g. lead tab, so that a number of parts forming the rechargeable battery can be reduced, thus reducing production cost of the rechargeable battery. The protection element can be coupled with the cap plate by welding, so that the protection circuit board can be stably fixed to the cap plate by the protection element. The protection circuit module can be used to reduce and/or prevent the over-charge or over-discharge from occurring in the rechargeable battery by electrically connecting an additional structure, the protection element and the protection circuit board to a negative electrode and a positive electrode of the rechargeable battery.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The first electrode and the second electrode are selected form one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The support unit is formed of an insulation material.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows an exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery.    Case (11)    Cap plate (12)    Electrode terminal (13)    Protection circuit board (40)    Rechargeable battery (300)