目前，光学计算机研究集中在追求高速度、追求二维数据并行处理和追求整机效率3个分支.介绍了各分支的研究热点和主要难点.通过对比，表明追求整机效率的三值光学计算机(ternary optical computer,TOC)具有较好的可实现性，进而详细介绍了这种光电混合型计算机所具有的数据位众多、光学处理器可重构、处理器易扩展和能耗低等特点，以及基于这些特点所产生出的解决复杂问题的新思想或新算法.还介绍了三值光学计算机的用户可见结构、联机操作方法、编程操作方法，以及在并行程序中的使用方法和硬件扩充方法，并通过举例，介绍了众多数据位数和光学处理器可重构性的应用.所涉及的实例均结合正在上海大学计算机工程与科学学院构建的,面向应用研究千位三值光学计算机实验系统展开讨论.

The current research on optical computers is focused on three aspects: execution speed, twodimensional parallel processing, and system performance. Hot topics and difficult problems in these aspects are introduced. By comparison, it is concluded that the ternary optical computer (TOC) which seeks overall system performance is the most feasible. Advantages of ternary optical computers include availability of a large number of data bits, lower energy consumption, and easy reconfiguration and expansibility of the optical processor. Based on these advantages, new ideas and algorithms for solving highly complicated problems can be created. An experimental kilobit ternary optical computer is now under construction at the School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, to be used for applications research. Related to the new machine, the advantages, possible applications, userviewable architectures, online operation, program operation, and hardware expansion of optical computers are discussed.