Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a detection device that detects an amount of particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine according to an electrical property across electrodes of a particulate matter sensor disposed in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine;
• a device that burns and removes the particulate matter deposited on an element section of the particulate matter sensor by setting the element section in a predetermined temperature range for burning and removing the particulate matter deposited on the element section so as to maintain the element section in a condition in which particulate matter does not deposit on the element section, after the internal combustion engine is started and detection of the particulate matter amount is completed;
• and
• a device that maintains the element section at the predetermined temperature range continuously after the particulate matter has been removed by burning until the internal combustion engine stops.