Big tech companies are often filing patents for so-called inventions that might not ever be built let alone marketed and sold, but sometimes they offer an interesting perspective on the development of products that are on track for a consumer launch. Over the weekend, Kotaku have noticed some recent patent filings from Nintendo that claim rights to a few Wii-U concept features that don't quite fit the description of what has actually been announced -- notably, HD and 3D display support on the console's novel tablet-style controller.

The patents are clear that both of these are options that the device "Might" feature and as Koatku points out, they don't gel with what has already been officially announced, so Ninty are either planning a big surprise, or more likely that they were originally planned possibilities that were trimmed to keep costs down.

Although the console's main screen will support 1080p, the current display resolution specified for the Wii-U tablet controller is 480p -- lower than most modern smart phones.

There's still a lot we don't know about the Wii-U, but given that Nintendo have pledged for a 2012 launch, all bets are on a much more comprehensive reveal at this year's E3 Expo in Los Angeles in June.