Disk drive with multi-protocol channel to controller interface and method

A method comprising:

• transmitting, according to a first protocol, data from a disk arrangement to a first signal processing path configured to output data;
• receiving at a mode control unit a control signal of a first type;
• in response to receiving the control signal of the first type:
• coupling the first signal processing path in a mutually exclusive manner to a data interface by the mode control unit;
• transmitting the data from the coupled first signal processing path through the data interface;
• transmitting, according to a second protocol, data from the disk arrangement to a second signal processing path configured to output data, the first protocol being different from the second protocol;
• receiving at a mode control unit a control signal of a second type, the second type being different from the first type;
• in response to receiving the control signal of the second type:
• coupling the second signal processing path in a mutually exclusive manner to a data interface by the mode control unit;
• and
• transmitting the data from the coupled second signal processing path through the data interface;
• wherein the first protocol, but not the second protocol, is used to transmit data for controlling read and write operations in the disk arrangement.

An apparatus comprising:

• a disk arrangement;
• means for outputting data from the disk arrangement, the disk arrangement transmitting the data according to a first protocol;
• means for outputting data from the disk arrangement, the disk arrangement transmitting the data according to a second protocol;
• and
• an interface including a set of electrical data conductors and a mode control unit, the mode control unit configured to output data from the means for outputting the data from the disk arrangement according to the first protocol on the set of electrical data conductors, the mode control unit being further configured to output data from the means for outputting data from the disk arrangement according to the second protocol on the set of electrical data conductors according to the second protocol according to a control signal received by the mode control unit, the second protocol being different from the first protocol;
• wherein the first protocol, but not the second protocol, is used to transmit data for controlling read and write operations in the disk arrangement.

A method comprising:

• transmitting, according to a first protocol, data from a disk arrangement to a means for outputting data;
• receiving at a mode control unit a control signal of a first type;
• in response to receiving the control signal of the first type:
• coupling the means for outputting data according to the first protocol in a mutually exclusive manner to a data interface by the mode control unit according to the control signal;
• transmitting the data from the coupled first signal processing path through the data interface;
• transmitting, according to a second protocol, data from the disk arrangement to a means for outputting data, the first protocol being different from the second protocol;
• receiving at a mode control unit a control signal of a second type, the second type being different from the first type;
• in response to receiving the control signal of the second type:
• coupling the means for outputting data according to the second protocol in a mutually exclusive manner to a data interface by the mode control unit;
• and
• transmitting the data from the coupled means for outputting data according to the second protocol through the data interface;
• wherein the first protocol, but not the second protocol, is used to transmit data for controlling read and write operations in the disk arrangement.