Internal combustion engine having guillotine sliding valve

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a. a combustion chamber having a hollow interior with a first end and a second end, and a reciprocating piston moveable therein, said reciprocating piston moving along a fist reciprocating line of travel;
• b. a valve regulating, the passage of a fluid between the hollow interior of the combustion chamber and the atmosphere, said valve including
• i. a valve body having a valve opening and a blade track passing around said valve opening,
• ii. a guillotine blade configured to slide along a second reciprocating line of travel within said blade track between an open position in which said fluid may pass through said valve opening and a closed position in which said fluid is restricted from passing through said valve opening;
• iii. a reciprocating driver configured to move said guillotine blade along said blade track between said open position and said closed position;
• c. said guillotine blade being driven between said open position and said closed position by an electrically-driven force,
• d. said electrically-driven force being controlled by an electronic control signal;
• and
• e. said electronic control signal being generated by an electronic engine control unit, with said electronic control signal being varied in response to variations in operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.