Abstract: Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps that are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. These electroosmotic pumps are preferably fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also preferably allow for recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long-term closed-loop operation. Apparatus and methods according to the present invention also allow active regulation of the temperature of the device through electrical control of the flow through the pump and can utilize multiple cooling loops to allow independent regulation of the special and temporal characteristics of the device temperature profiles.

Abstract: A network and method for routing optical signals through wavelength-coding of routing tags belonging to the optical signals. The routing tag preferably consists of one or more header pulses S.sub.i which are chosen from among header wavelengths .lambda..sub.hi. Preferably, the header wavelengths .lambda..sub.hi are different from wavelengths used by the data. The optical signal also has reset tag containing preferably one reset pulse R preferably having a unique reset wavelength .lambda..sub.r. The optical data is contained between the routing tag and the reset tag. The network has a splitter for dividing the optical signal into two or more split optical signals, which are copies of the original optical signal. A wavelength differentiating element is positioned in the path of one of the split optical signals to differentiate and preferably spatially resolve the header wavelengths of the header pulses.