US Patent 7159555 Start control for internal combustion engine

In an internal combustion engine, a starter motor is energized in response to a request for an engine start to perform a cranking of the internal combustion engine. Thereafter, an electric variable valve motor is energized to control a valve opening/closing characteristic to a condition designed to promote the cranking. The start of the energization of the electric variable valve motor is delayed from the start of the energization of the starter motor at least by a predetermined delay period.