PS2 control coming to PSP

Kotaku

has discovered a US

patent

filed by Sony that details a new PS2 or PS3 controller named the Control Docking Unit that is able to link with PSP, granting the machine the full range of controls gifted by the traditional PlayStation joypad.

Initially filed in September 2005, the patent describes the additional analogue stick and buttons as providing additional functions, features or enhanced operation”.

If this new feature is coupled with the video out capabilities of the redesigned PSP unveiled at E3, which enable it to be viewed on a TV screen, then the machine very much becomes a true home console contender.

Kotaku speculates that the technology could be a feature of the expected PS3 Sixaxis redesign.