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Systems and methods for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of brushless direct current electric motors are provided. Such methods comprises detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of a motor; detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven

Systems and methods for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of brushless direct current electric motors are provided. Such methods comprises detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of a motor; detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse; and using the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in commutation of the motor.

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1. A method for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of a brushless electric motor, the method comprising: detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of the motor by masking a leading edge of the kickback pulse and detecting a falling edge of the kickback

1. A method for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of a brushless electric motor, the method comprising: detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of the motor by masking a leading edge of the kickback pulse and detecting a falling edge of the kickback pulse;detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse, generating a signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing; andusing the signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in commutation of current through the windings of the motor. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the masking of the leading edge of the kickback pulse comprises the application of a delay. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detection of the falling edge of the kickback pulse comprises comparing a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding of the motor to a reference voltage. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of the kickback pulse comprises comparing a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding of the motor to a reference voltage. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing comprises comparing a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding of the motor to a reference voltage. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising correlating the generated signal to a position of a rotor of the motor in relation to a stator of the motor. 7. A brushless direct current electric motor comprising: a stator and a cooperating permanent magnet rotor, the stator having a plurality of windings; andcircuitry configured to:detect a kickback pulse in at least one of the windings when that winding is not driven by masking a leading edge of the kickback pulse and detecting a falling edge of the kickback pulse;detect a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse, generating a signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing; anduse the signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in control of the motor. 8. The motor of claim 7, wherein the circuitry is configured to mask a leading edge of the kickback pulse using a masking delay. 9. The motor of claim 7, wherein the circuitry comprises a voltage comparator to compare a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding of the motor to a reference voltage. 10. The motor of claim 9 wherein the plurality of windings comprise three phase windings. 11. The motor of claim 7, wherein the circuitry is configured to detect the rotor-induced zero crossing by comparing a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding of the motor to a reference voltage. 12. The motor of claim 11, wherein the reference voltage is a generated virtual neutral voltage. 13. The motor of claim 7 wherein the plurality of windings comprise three phase windings. 14. A position sensing circuit for use in a brushless electrical motor comprising a stator and a rotor, the position sensing circuit comprising: means for detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of the stator by masking a leading edge of the kickback pulse and detecting a falling edge of the kickback pulse;means for detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the kickback pulse and generating a signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing; andmeans for using the signal representative of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal representative of the position of the rotor in relation to the stator. 15. The circuit of claim 14, comprising means for comparing a voltage sensed in the non-driven winding to a reference voltage. 16. The circuit of claim 15, wherein the reference voltage is a generated virtual neutral. 17. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the means for masking is configured to apply a delay for masking a leading edge of the kickback pulse.