Patent ID: 7055473

Claim:
An internal combustion engine comprising an engine body, a movable member movable relative to the engine body, the engine body and the movable member together defining a combustion chamber, the engine body defining intake and exhaust ports communicating with the combustion chamber, an air induction system communicating with the combustion chamber through the intake port, the air induction system including a throttle valve arranged to regulate an amount of air, an exhaust system communicating with the combustion chamber through the exhaust port, an intake valve configured to move between an open position and a closed position of the intake port, an exhaust valve configured to move between an open position and a closed position of the exhaust port, a valve actuator configured to actuate either the intake valve or the exhaust valve, a change mechanism configured to change an actuating timing of the valve actuator at which the valve actuator actuates the intake valve or the exhaust valve, a control device configured to control the change mechanism and at least a first sensor configured to sense movement of the throttle valve and to send a first signal to the control device indicative of movement of the throttle valve, the control device being configured to determine if the engine is in a cruising mode based, at least in part, on the first signal and to control the change mechanism to advance or retard the timing of the valve actuator to reduce engine speed fluctuations when the engine is in a cruising mode.