Patent ID: 7343886

Claim:
An internal combustion engine control apparatus comprising: a hydraulically operated variable valve operating mechanism configured to vary a valve timing of air intake valves; and a valve timing control section configured to control the hydraulically operated variable valve operating mechanism to set the valve timing to a warm-up idle valve timing with a high idling speed when engine temperature is determined to be cold and to set the valve timing to a post-warm-up idle valve timing with a post-warm-up idling speed when the engine temperature is determined to be equal to or above a warm-up temperature threshold, the high idling speed being higher than the post-warm-up idling speed, the valve timing control section being further configured to switch the valve timing from the warm-up idle valve timing to the post-warm-up idle valve timing as the engine temperature approaches the warm-up temperature threshold such that the switch starts before an engine rotational speed falls below a rotational speed threshold lying between the high idling speed during the warm-up idle valve timing and the post-warm-up idling speed during the post-warm-up idle valve timing such that a sufficient hydraulic pressure switches the valve timing with a specific degree of responsiveness being attained when the engine rotational speed is at or above the rotational speed threshold.