Sensor control apparatus and sensor control method

A sensor control apparatus comprising:

• a gas sensor which comprises:
• a sensor element for measuring a concentration of a particular gas component contained in a gas flowing within a pipe disposed in an internal combustion engine,
• a housing which houses the sensor element therein and is inserted into the pipe, and
• a base part which is formed of a resin, attached to the housing and disposed on an outer side of the pipe;
• a heating part which increases a temperature of the sensor element;
• and
• a control part which adjusts at least one of voltage and current supplied to the heating part to maintain the temperature of the sensor element at an activating temperature, wherein
• the control part determines whether or not, when the internal combustion engine having been driven is stopped, the internal combustion engine is stopped in a manner satisfying a predetermined automatic stop condition, and wherein
• when it is determined that the internal combustion engine is stopped in the manner satisfying the predetermined automatic stop condition, the control part switches from a control for maintaining the temperature of the sensor element at the activating temperature to a control in a stop state for reducing at least one of the voltage and current supplied to the heating part to thereby set a temperature of the base part to a value equal to or lower than a shape holding temperature of the resin.