A member of the NeoGAF forums did some snooping around and found a patent application filed on October 23rd by SCEA. I don't know what to think about this one, when I looked for it the US Patent Office web-page with this patent on it seemed to be missing, maybe it was a bad link or maybe it was pulled, but this could be awesome if it makes it to production.

The patent describes a one-handed controller whose absolute xyz position and rotation in space can be determined. It merges a variety of inputs to determine that information, including:

1) Ultrasound to determine absolute depth from an ultrasonic detector (i.e. the PSEye microphone array), and to determine distance between two controllers in your hands, and/or between multiple player controlers

2) An array of LEDs picked up by the PSEye camera to determine absolute X/Y position (with support from microphone array and ultrasound signals using triangulation), as well as information about the controller's location relative to your body etc.

3) Accelerometer in the controller to determine xyz and rotational inertia

The patent describes replaceable face plates, and a two controller face plate to provide 'traditional' DS controls, and also various configurations like pluggging two together.

Livewire_19 via neogaf.com »