View source for P-ROC functionality

A P-ROC combined with a PC or embedded microcontroller provides functionality equivalent to a CPU board in a pinball machine.  Software runs on the PC or microcontroller and communicates with the pinball machine's features through the P-ROC via USB.

The P-ROC is essentially an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field-programmable_gate_array FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)] surrounded by some support logic and a bunch of connectors.  The FPGA contains custom logic enabling it to perform tasks including:

* [[USB_Control | Communicating with a PC over USB]]
* [[Switch_Control | Scanning switches for switch events]] (Direct, Matrixed, and Burst)
* [[Driver_Control | Driving coils, lamps, motors, etc]] (Direct and Multiplexed)
* [[DMD_Control | Driving a Dot Matrix Display]] (DMD)

Note that the P-ROC does not handle audio. Instead audio is typically processed by the computer or microcontroller which is running the game software connected to the P-ROC.

The support logic and connectors enable the P-ROC to be used as a controller in custom homebrew pinball machines or as a CPU board replacement in the following generations of machines:

* WPC
* WPC-95
* Stern Whitestar
* Stern S.A.M.