Control apparatus and control method for internal combusion engine

Abstract

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a controller that performs a variable valve timing control to change a valve timing of an intake valve. A condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a control of increasing a fuel injection amount is being performed.

1 . A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a controller that performs a variable valve timing control to change a valve timing of an intake valve, wherein a condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a control of increasing a fuel injection amount is being performed.   
     
     
         2 . The control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control of increasing the fuel injection amount is performed to raise a temperature of a catalyst. 
     
     
         3 . The control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a prescribed time has elapsed since beginning of the control of increasing the fuel injection amount. 
     
     
         4 . The control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a number of times of repeated start of the internal combustion engine is equal to or smaller than a prescribed value. 
     
     
         5 . The control apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising
 a repeated start number-of-times counter that counts a number of times of repeated start of the internal combustion engine, wherein a value of the repeated start number-of-times counter is cleared when an engine coolant temperature has fallen by a predetermined value or more since end of a previous trip.   
     
     
         6 . A control method for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 determining whether or not a condition for performing a variable valve timing control when the engine is cold is fulfilled; and   performing the variable valve timing control if it is determined that the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold is fulfilled, wherein the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a control of increasing a fuel injection amount is being performed.   
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the control of increasing the fuel injection amount is performed to raise a temperature of a catalyst. 
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a prescribed time has elapsed since beginning of the control of increasing the fuel injection amount. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the condition for performing the variable valve timing control when the engine is cold includes a condition that a number of times of repeated start of the internal combustion engine is equal to or smaller than a prescribed value.