Technology in a newly published BlackBerry Patent application specifies a mechanism for a BlackBerry microphone fastened to the device, but with more distance than between current microphone-speaker arrangements.

Part of the phraseology describing this need is found in Paragraph 3 of the Patent's Background section.

"In a typical telephone, a handset is provided which is a shaped form having two transducers, e.g. a microphone and a speaker, positioned in a well-spaced relationship," the application says. "Meanwhile, portable communication devices, such as cellular phones, have smaller and smaller form factors. Locating transducers in a cellular phone is a difficult task, because there are space restrictions on potential locations for the transducers and in certain confined spaces, the location of a transducer, such as a microphone, must be sufficiently isolated from signal interference generated from other devices within the phone. "

Therefore, U.S. Patent Application 20060293091, Microphone Coupler for a Communications Device, describes- in infinite detail I might add- a way for this isolation to happen in a way that promotes signal interference.

This Patent's Abstract somewhat describes what is being proposed here.
"The invention provides a communication device comprising: a cover; a printed circuit board; a microphone on the printed circuit board; an antenna located at least in part within the cover; and a RF shield can shaped to fit over the microphone about the PCB.," the Abstract explains. "In the device, the cover is shaped to enclose the PCB and the RF shield can. The cover provides pressure on the RF shield can to press inward on the microphone to fixedly attach it to the PCB. "

Most of the rest of this Patent's literature goes into all types of arcane ways such fastening technology could be deployed on a BlackBerry. I said "fastening," not "fascinating." So the main thing you'll want to know is that RIM's researchers (hey guess what the "R" in RIM stands for) are busting it to find ways to cut down on signal interference.