SURFACE MOUNT HEATER
A heater that includes a substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material having a first end and a second end, a first electrical conductor electrically connected to the first end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material, a second electrical conductor electrically connected to the second end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material, and an electrically insulating material surrounding the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material and electrically insulating the first end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material from the second end of the substantially flat layer of electrical resistance material. The heater may be mounted to a surface of a fluid component and used to heat the fluid component, and where the heater includes an aperture that extends through the electrically insulating material, the heater may be placed between a fluid component and a fluid substrate and used to heat both.
1 - 45 . (canceled)
46 . A fluid panel comprising:
at least one fluid substrate having a substrate port disposed in a first surface of the at least one fluid substrate;
at least one fluid component fastened to the at least one fluid substrate and having a component port disposed in a first surface of the at least one fluid component, the component port of the at least one fluid component being in fluid communication with the substrate port of the at least one fluid substrate; and
a substantially flat heater disposed between the first surface of the at least one fluid substrate and the first surface of the at least one fluid component.
47 . The fluid panel of claim 46 , wherein the first surface of the at least one fluid substrate is a top surface of the at least one fluid substrate, and wherein the first surface of the at least one fluid component is a bottom surface of the at least one fluid component.
48 . The fluid panel of claim 46 , wherein the substantially flat heater includes an aperture aligned with the substrate port and the component port.
49 . The fluid panel of claim 48 , further comprising:
a seal disposed between the substrate port of the at least one fluid substrate and the component port of the at least one fluid component.
50 . The fluid panel of claim 49 , wherein the seal is formed integrally with the substantially flat heater.
51 . The fluid panel of claim 49 , wherein the substantially flat heater includes means for retaining the seal in a fixed position relative to the substantially flat heater.
52 . The fluid panel of claim 46 , further comprising:
means for retaining the substantially flat heater together with the at least one fluid component.
53 . The fluid panel of claim 52 , wherein the means for retaining is integrally formed in the substantially flat heater.
54 - 63 . (canceled)