Patent ID: 8210141

Claim:
A variable valve system of an internal combustion engine comprising: an intake side phase varying mechanism configured to vary an open/close timing of an intake valve; an exhaust side phase varying mechanism configured to vary an open/close timing of an exhaust valve, wherein, before starting the engine, one of the intake and exhaust side phase varying mechanisms is configured to keep a first position such that the intake and exhaust valves show a maximum valve overlap therebetween and the other of the intake and exhaust side phase varying mechanisms is configured to keep a second position such that the intake and exhaust valves show a minimum valve overlap therebetween; and a controller configured to cause, after starting the engine, the one of the intake and exhaust side phase varying mechanisms to be actually controlled to the first position and to cause the other of the intake and exhaust side phase varying mechanisms to be actually controlled to the second position.