And in query() function logic for "$required = TRUE;" There is implementation...

And in query() function logic for "$required = TRUE;" There is implementation of if else but i think if search textbox is empty or non empty , whether string matches or non-matches $required variable never set as TRUE. @Scott Weston can you verify that , view is never entering into following condition

if ($required) {
if ($this->operator == 'required') {
$this->query->addWhere($this->options['group'], 'FALSE');
}
}

in query() function.