Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a supercharging device comprising:

• a valve-drive mechanism that variably controls a valve timing for at least intake valves;
• a target valve timing setting unit that sets a target valve timing for at least the intake valves in accordance with an operation condition of the engine in a low engine speed range;
• and
• a valve-drive mechanism controlling unit that controls the valve-drive mechanism based on the target valve timing,
• wherein the target valve timing setting unit sets:
• (a) a first target valve timing such that a valve-overlap duration, during which both an intake valve and an exhaust valve are open, is provided when the engine is operating in a negative pressure region where the supercharging device is not being driven at a sufficient rate to produce a positive intake pressure,
• (b) a second target valve timing such that the valve-overlap duration when the engine is operating in a first supercharging region of supercharging regions, where the supercharging device is being driven, is reduced compared to the valve-overlap duration in the negative pressure region preceding the first supercharging region, and
• (c) a third target valve timing such that the valve-overlap duration when the engine is operating in a second supercharging region, where a higher engine load than an engine load of the first supercharging region, is increased compared to the valve-overlap duration in the first supercharging region preceding the second supercharging region.