Patent ID: 7883389

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a flat panel assembly, comprising: a top glass substrate; a bottom glass substrate; a glass spacer disposed between the top and bottom glass substrates along a periphery of the top and bottom glass substrates; a first glass frit connecting the spacer to the top glass substrate; and a second glass fit connecting the spacer to the bottom glass substrate; a retainer holding the top and bottom glass substrates; and a heat assembly, comprising: a heat conductive frame in direct contact with the top glass substrate; a heat source; and a dielectric material disposed between the heat source and the frame, the heat assembly disposed about the periphery of the flat panel assembly and positioned substantially vertically in-line with the first and second glass frits to direct heat output from the heat assembly substantially only to the periphery of the flat panel assembly to melt the first and second glass frits and join the top and bottom glass substrates and the spacer.