US Patent 7128044 Engine control with variable control valve

A method of operating an internal combustion engine. The method includes disabling at least one piston cylinder of the engine. While said at least one piston cylinder is disabled, turbulence is selectively varied in an air intake pathway of an enabled piston cylinder, so as to vary charge motion within the enabled piston cylinder. The selective variation of turbulence is effected at a location in the air intake pathway between a throttle of the engine and an intake valve of the enabled cylinder.