Abstract: A constructional building material, such as a brick, with at least one base section and a vane extending from the base section. The vane defines, at least in part, a volume of space within an envelope boundary that facilitates fluid flow, such as airflow, through a wall system formed at least in part from one or more constructional building materials. Adjacent vanes, either of the same constructional building material or of different constructional building materials, may operate to provide or define one or more common volumes of space and corresponding fluid flow channels and associated fluid flow paths. A wall system, formed in accordance with the present invention, allows fluid to pass from one side to the other through the wall system while also providing up to complete visual obstruction through the wall depending upon how the wall system is constructed.

Abstract: A constructional building material, such as a brick, with at least one base section and a vane extending from the base section. The vane defines, at least in part, a volume of space within an envelope boundary that facilitates fluid flow, such as airflow, through a wall system formed at least in part from one or more constructional building materials. Adjacent vanes, either of the same constructional building material or of different constructional building materials, may operate to provide or define one or more common volumes of space and corresponding fluid flow channels and associated fluid flow paths. A wall system, formed in accordance with the present invention, allows fluid to pass from one side to the other through the wall system while also providing up to complete visual obstruction through the wall depending upon how the wall system is constructed.

Abstract: A constructional building material, such as a brick, with at least one base section and a vane extending from the base section. The vane defines, at least in part, a volume of space within an envelope boundary that facilitates fluid flow, such as airflow, through a wall system formed at least in part from one or more constructional building materials. Adjacent vanes, either of the same constructional building material or of different constructional building materials, may operate to provide or define one or more common volumes of space and corresponding fluid flow channels and associated fluid flow paths. A wall system, formed in accordance with the present invention, allows fluid to pass from one side to the other through the wall system while also providing up to complete visual obstruction through the wall depending upon how the wall system is constructed.

Abstract: A constructional building material, such as a brick, with at least one base section and a vane extending from the base section. The vane defines, at least in part, a volume of space within an envelope boundary that facilitates fluid flow, such as airflow, through a wall system formed at least in part from one or more constructional building materials. Adjacent vanes, either of the same constructional building material or of different constructional building materials, may operate to provide or define one or more common volumes of space and corresponding fluid flow channels and associated fluid flow paths. A wall system, formed in accordance with the present invention, allows fluid to pass from one side to the other through the wall system while also providing up to complete visual obstruction through the wall depending upon how the wall system is constructed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input device comprising (a) a base support, having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed therein to define a circumscribed or circumscribing input pad configured to displace under the applied force; (b) a plurality of isolated beam segments, defined by the plurality of apertures, and operable to receive resultant forces distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad; (c) at least two sensors, disposed along each isolated beam segment, and configured to measure the forces transmitted from the input pad to the periphery and to output a signal corresponding to the applied force. One or more processing means operable with the plurality of sensors may be utilized to receive the signal and to determine at least one of a location and/or magnitude of the applied force acting on the input pad.

Abstract: A touch-based input device is disclosed providing a reconfigurable user interface. Said touch-based input device comprises an input receiving element having a touch sensitive contacting surface as part of a first configured user interface adapted to receive an applied force, a sensing element operable to detect and to determine at least a location of said applied force, and at least one static component removably disposed at a first location about said input receiving element, and adapted to at least partially define said first configured user interface. Said static component is movable to a second location about said input receiving element to reconfigure said user interface and to at least partially define a second configured user interface.

Abstract: A tactile device comprising a tactile device and a feedback mechanism operable with a sensing surface to receive a force input from a user and transfer that force input to a force sensing element. The tactile device is configured to allow the user to touch the tactile device and register an input force with the force sensing element. The tactile device is also operable with the feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the user that the force input from the user has been registered with the force sensing element.

Abstract: A touch-based input device comprising a first structural element supported in a fixed position, a second structural element operable with said first structural element and configured to define a touch-sensing element. The touch-based input device further comprising at least one sensor operable to measure an external stimulus applied to said touch-sensing element, the at least one sensor being configured to output a signal corresponding to said external stimulus to be used to determine a location of said external stimulus applied to said touch-sensing element, wherein at least a portion of the touch-sensing element comprises a boundary defining a void present in the touch-sensing element.

Abstract: A touch-based input device is disclosed comprising a touch-sensing element configured to register a touch on said touch-sensing element and at least one sensor operably connected to the touch-sensing element and configured to measure said touch, wherein said sensor is further configured to generate a signal corresponding to the detection of said touch. The input device further comprises a dynamic component operably connected to the touch-sensing element, said dynamic component configured to apply a dynamic force to the touch-sensing element without registering a detectable touch on said touch-sensing element while concurrently allowing detection of an external stimulus on the touch-sensing element.

Abstract: An input device comprising a base support, having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed therein to define a circumscribed or circumscribing input pad configured to displace under the applied force; a plurality of isolated beam segments, defined by the plurality of apertures, and operable to receive resultant forces distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad; at least two sensors, disposed along each isolated beam segment, and configured to measure the forces transmitted from the input pad to the periphery and to output a signal corresponding to the applied force. One or more processing means operable with the plurality of sensors may be utilized to receive the signal and to determine at least one of a location and/or magnitude of the applied force acting on the input pad.

Abstract: A force-based input device responsive to an applied force to determine a location and/or magnitude of the applied force. The input device comprises a fixed frame and a base support, having an input member configured to receive the applied force and to displace relative to said fixed frame in response to the applied force. The input device is modular in the sense that it comprises a separate module or structure that relates the fixed frame and base support components to one another, as well as constraining these in all directions. The constraining module further comprises a sensing component (such as an isolated beam structure) defined therein by one or more configurations formed in the constraining module. One or more sensors are provided that are operable with the sensing component of the constraining module, which sensors are located in a region of high stress strategically provided by the various configurations of the module.