US Patent 7171507 High latency interface between hardware components

A hard disk controller having a latency-independent interface comprises a data gate circuit that transmits a data gate signal. A data circuit transmits or receives data under control of the data gate signal. A media gate circuit transmits a media gate signal. A mode selection circuit transmits mode selection information under control of the media gate signal, wherein said data gate signal controls the transfer of data between the hard disk controller and a read/write channel in accordance with the media gate signal.