Sony files patent for handheld with touchscreen

On Friday, SCEA was successfully granted a patent for “ a hand-held device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels." While it would be a leap of logic to suggest that they are planning to release a ‘DSP’, the fact is that “game device” is one of the potential applications that was listed.

Of course it could be used in one of the many other handheld devices that was also listed such as phone, portable media player, email device, web browser device or navigation device.

As well as the touchscreen, Sony also mentions the mysterious “digital tactile pixels”, which apparently will use vibration as the tactile response. Intriguing…
Also interesting is the fact that former head of SCE Phil Harrison is listed as the inventor of this patent. Harrison is now heading up Atari.

Other interesting patents filed by the company include one that mentions connectivity between the SIXAXIS/Dual-Shock controller and the PSP. This would essentially allow PSP games to be controlled with the normal PS3 gamepad. Sadly, many patents never see the light of day. (Source Gaming Verdict)