CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

An object is to prevent increases in harmful exhaust emissions and misfire from being caused by skip firing control in internal combustion engines capable of performing cylinder deactivation. A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine having a variable valve actuation system capable of switching the operation mode of intake and exhaust valve between an inactive mode and an active mode on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis and a fuel injection valve capable of supplying fuel to each cylinder. When the engine load is equal to or lower than a first engine load, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by skip firing control. When the engine speed is higher than the first engine speed, the control apparatus performs cylinder deactivation in the internal combustion engine by fixed deactivated cylinder control.