A patent application filed last year describes a new PlayStation Vita configuration which includes HDMI and USB support.
The application was published on Feb. 7. That image above was included in the filing, dated July 27.
Sony, of course, has an event scheduled for Feb. 20 at which the next PlayStation console is expected to be formally revealed. If there's a new handheld configuration, it could be announced there as well.
We've reached out to Sony to ask if it has any comment on upcoming Vita formats.
[Update] We've heard from a reader familiar with the Vita's development hardware that this could be the patent application for the devkit.
A Sony representative has told Kotaku the company does not comment on patents.
New Sony Patent Reveals New Ports Coming to PS Vita [PatentBolt via NeoGAF.]