Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a first three-way catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine and capable of purifying exhaust gas;
• a particulate filter, disposed in the exhaust passage downstream from the particulate filter, for trapping particulate matter contained in exhaust gas;
• a second three-way catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the first three-way catalyst and the particulate filter, wherein the second three-way catalyst has an oxygen storage capacity;
• and
• an electronic control unit including program logic that, when executed by the electronic control unit,
• executes filter regeneration control which regenerates the particulate filter on which the particulate matter accumulates;
• executes catalyst warm-up control which facilitates warm-up of the first three-way catalyst at cold start of the internal combustion engine;
• adjusts control timing so that the filter regeneration control is started after the catalyst warm-up control is started;
• judges a state of richness of atmosphere gas of the second three-way catalyst;
• and
• prohibits a start of the filter regeneration control until the atmosphere of the second three-way catalyst becomes a rich atmosphere,
• wherein the control apparatus uses control for providing a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio as basic control for an air-fuel ratio.