Patent ID: 7159441

Claim:
A method for aligning a cloverleaf micro-gyroscope having a resonator having an affixed central proof mass, the resonator being elastically suspended in an x-y plane defining a resonator having rocking inertia and rocking suspension, at least four electrodes in an electrode plane adjacent the x-y plane, the at least four electrodes for actuating and sensing a rocking motion of the resonator rocking suspension, and closed loop control of the resonator rocking motion about the x and y axes, said method comprising the steps of: detecting mechanical misalignment in rocking vibration of the resonator in the x-y plane; and nulling the mechanical misalignment of the resonator to zero by applying an electrostatic bias adjustment to an electrode of the at least four electrodes in the electrode plane to produce a cross-coupling spring stiffness, K e xy and resulting dynamic alignment torques to cancel dynamic mechanical misalignment torques caused by misalignment of the resonator rocking suspension and rocking inertia in the x-y plane.