Patent ID: 8148928

Claim:
A method for starting a brushless DC motor, comprising: setting a value of a variable to a first time; setting a value of a timer to a third time; generating a first summed current that flows from a first node to a second node until the third time is greater than the first time, wherein a first portion of the first summed current flows from the second node to a third node and a second portion of the first summed current flows from the second node to a fourth node; generating a second current that flows from the first node to the second node and to the fourth node; after a first delay, storing a first back electromotive force value; generating a first sampled value by sampling the timer at a second time when the first back electromotive force value substantially equals one of a first peak amplitude or a divided value equal to a quotient of the first peak amplitude divided by a first divisor; and adjusting the value of the variable towards the first sampled value.