Patent ID: 7362003

Claim:
A linear electric generator (LEG) comprising: a coil assembly comprising N sections of induction coils disposed linearly along a distance d 1 ; the coils exhibiting inductance and resistance along their length; a magnetic assembly of length d 2 , where d 2 is smaller than d 1 ; means for passing the magnetic assembly along and over the linearly disposed induction coils while maintaining a small gap between the magnetic assembly and the coils, the passing of the magnetic assembly over a particular coil section causing that particular coil section to be excited in that it produces a voltage across the coils in that particular section; first and second output points for producing therebetween a voltage corresponding to the voltage generated across the coils due to the passing magnetic assembly; and switching means coupled between the coils and the first and second output points for selectively coupling only sections of coils in close proximity to the passing magnetic assembly between the first and second output points, whereby sections of coils which are not in close proximity to the magnetic assembly are disconnected from the first and second output points thereby reducing power losses and increasing the power producing efficiency of the LEG.