NVIDIA has all but confirmed an HTC Nexus 9 tablet packing its 64-bit Tegra K1 processor by mentioning the device in a lawsuit filed against Qualcomm and Samsung. The chip maker expects the tablet to begin shipping during the third quarter of 2014, and some believe it could be announced at HTC’s “Double Exposure” event on October 9.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the Nexus 9 in recent months, and speculation is becoming more rampant now that Google’s newest Nexus tablet is well over a year old. The device is expected to replace both the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10 and become the only tablet in Google’s hardware lineup, with specifications that will blow its rivals right out of the water.

In addition to its 64-bit Tegra K1 chip, the Nexus 9 will reportedly come with a 9-inch Quad HD display, up to 4GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and NFC connectivity. We’ve also seen leaked images of a snap-on case that has an integrated keyboard, much like Microsoft’s Type Cover for the Surface Pro.

If NVIDIA says the Nexus 9 will ship during the third quarter of 2014, HTC and Google have until the end of this month to announce it, and that seems unlikely at this point. We’re not sure it’ll appear at HTC’s “Double Exposure” event next month, either, which is hinting at another HTC product with a Duo Camera like the One M8.

We could well be surprised, however. Google has been known to announce devices out of the blue in the past — without a press event — so it’s possible it could appear in the Google Play Store without warning any day now. It certainly seems like the Nexus 9 isn’t too far away at this point.

• ViaEngadget