Control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine installed in a hybrid vehicle having a motor that, together with the internal combustion engine, are used as a driving source, the control apparatus comprising:

• a throttle valve drive unit that drives a throttle valve to change an opening degree of the throttle valve, the throttle valve adjusting an amount of air taken in the internal combustion engine;
• and
• a start-up control unit that controls the throttle valve drive unit such that the opening degree does not exceed a prescribed limit and a rate of increase in the opening degree is equal to or lower than a predetermined opening degree increase rate for a predetermined time period after start-up of the internal combustion engine is initiated, when the vehicle is running with power of the motor, the start-up control unit comprising:
• an opening degree command unit that calculates a target opening degree based on a required power to be output from the internal combustion engine and commands the throttle valve drive unit to open the throttle valve up to the target opening degree;
• and
• an output power control unit that executes a limiting control to change the required power such that a rate of increase in the required power is equal to or lower than a predetermined power increase rate, the output power control unit comprising:
• a vehicle power calculation unit that calculates, based on at least an accelerator pedal operation amount and a state of charge of a traction battery, a vehicle power required to drive the vehicle;
• and
• a limiting control unit that starts the limiting control when the vehicle power exceeds a predetermined value, terminates the limiting control when the predetermined time period has elapsed after start-up of the internal combustion engine is initiated, and causes the required power to follow the vehicle power after the limiting control is completed.