Like many other hobbies , Virtual pinball has a lot of acronyms and lingo. Here's a quick list of terms and description to help you demystify the terminology
A
AC current
Alternative Current: Electric current flows in two ways as an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The main difference between AC and DC lies in the direction in which the electrons flow. In DC, the electrons flow steadily in a single direction, while electrons keep switching directions, going forward and then backwards in AC. Most of the Virtual Pinball components (Toys )work on DC.
ALED
Acronym for Addressable LED. An addressable RGB lighting strip lets users control every single LED individually.
B2S
This is for the backglass server. When describing B2S people often refers to the actual software "B2SServer" or the actual backglass which has the extension .directb2s
Backglass
Refers to the screen used to display an image on the back box.
Booster boards
Controllers like the LEDWIZ, KL25Z and Pacdrive output are typically limited to 500ma. To trigger a toy requiring more than 500ma, a booster board has to be used. Such boards are called MOSFET boards or you can also use Sainsmart SSR boards.
Breakout Board
The ATX power connector breakout board breaks out the standard 4-pin computer peripheral port when mated with an ATX connector for your 12V and 5V devices
B
Chime
This is a mechanical chime. The metal plates are hit by a solenoid and it produces a sound like a Xylophone.
Contactor
A contactor is an electrical device which is used for switching an electrical circuit on or off. In Virtual Pinball, it's purpose is to make noise simulating the bumpers , flippers or slingshot noise.
Common Ground
Grounding something simply means connecting it to ground. And in electronics, ground is just a name we give to a certain point in the circuit. For example, in a circuit with one battery (with a positive and a negative terminal), we usually refer to the negative terminal as ground. All grounds are connected together at a central point.
Controller
In virtual Pinball we refer to a controller as a board controlling Toys for force Feedback using DOF
C
DC
Direct Current: Electric current flows in two ways as an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). The main difference between AC and DC lies in the direction in which the electrons flow. In DC, the electrons flow steadily in a single direction, while electrons keep switching directions, going forward and then backwards in AC. Most of the Virtual Pinball components (Toys ) work on DC. If the power is AC, It must be converted to DC.
DOF
Direct Output Framework. Software used to control toys on a virtual pinball cabinet such as Solenoids, Shaker motor, Blower Fan, Gear motor, LED and Addressable LED
Diode
A diode is a semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current. It allows current to flow easily in one direction, but severely restricts current from flowing in the opposite direction
DOFLinx
Software allowing you to enable Force feedback and Addressable LED in future Pinball and Zen Pinball Fx3.
DMD
Dot Matrix Display. This is the score
DMDExt
DMDExt is referring to the software used to display an enhanced DMD. Some people call it Freezy but the offical name is DMDExt. It replaces the default DMD showed in the table. It adds quality and extra customization.
DirectB2S
The actual backglass file extension which has the extension .directb2s.
D
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E
F
Fan
Fans are also used as a force feedback and are called Blower fans. They are typically 12V marine bilge blower fans.
Force Feedback
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Fleep Sound
This is a great addition for improving the table sound. The purpose is to make the table sound like a real mechanical table. See Here for a Video.
This can be enable on older tables by adding code in the table script.
FlexDMD
Flexible rendering library, allowing to create any style of DMD animation, including so called "Video Mode" (like saucer attack in Attack From Mars). Many tables, typically original tables are using this for the DMD.
Freezy
Freezy is referring to the software used to display a enhanced DMD.The official name is DMDExt. It replaces the default DMD showed in the table. It adds quality and extra customization.
Fuse (fast blowing )
This is a typical fuse where when the current value of the device goes above the fuse limit, it blows.
Fuse (Slow blowing )
designed to allow a current which is above the rated value of the fuse to flow for a short period of time without the fuse blowing. This delay is to decrease the chances of false tripping.
Future Pinball
This is a Pinball emulator
G
Gear motor
Toy used in virtual pinball. You can use a electric window motor or a wiper motor. This is controlled by DOF.
Ground
Grounding something simply means connecting it to ground. And in electronics, ground is just a name we give to a certain point in the circuit. For example, in a circuit with one battery (with a positive and a negative terminal), we usually refer to the negative terminal as ground.
H
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I
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J
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K
KL25Z
This is a DOF Compatible board allowing to control all your Toys on a cabinet. This can be used as a standalone using booster boards or it can be incorporate to a Pinscape board like the Rigmaster or any other KL25Z Expansion devices.
L
LED Amplifier
This small compact LED amplifier will help boost the signal of your LED strip lights after the allotted run length. Also used to trigger the LED connected on a low power controller board like the KL25Z or the LEDWiZ
LEDWiZ
This is a DOF Compatible board allowing to control RGB Led and toys.
M
MOSFET board
MOSFET stands for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. MOSFET can only be used to control a DC circuit such as solenoids and other Virtual Pinball Toys. It provides extra power to allow the KL25Z , PAcDrive or LEDWIZ to trigger items connected to it.
N
NFOZZY
nFozzy inserts a sub-routine into the flipper code path that interprets whether the player wants to blast away with full power strokes, or subtle low voltage flicks.
Normally closed
Normally closed - Is a contact that flows current in its normal state. Energizing it and switching it on will open the contact, causing it to not allow current flow. (An example would be a light always on and when energized, the light would turn off )
Normally open
Normally open - Is a contact that does not flow current in its normal state. Energizing it and switching it on will close the contact, causing it to allow current flow and the device to turn on.
Nudging
Nudging is the act of slightly pushing the table itself physically to try and manipulate the ball, usually done to either affect its trajectory or save it from draining
O
Octo2811
This is an adapter board to facilitate connecting the Teensy board in order to control addressable LED
P
PacDrive
This is a DOF Compatible board allowing to control RGB Led and toys. This DOES NOT allow dimming. The maximum output is 500mA and will require a booster board.
PacDrive64
This is a DOF Compatible board allowing to control RGB Led only. This allows dimming and the maximum output is 20mA
Pup packs
Pup packs are extra multimedia features that can be added to a table. Someone created a multimedia Pack and modified the table script to enable video and images to be displayed on different screens during the game play. It requires Pinup player in order to function.
PinballX
This is a Front end for Virtual Pinball. It allows to organize, manage and launch tables from the front end.
Pinup Player
Software created by nailbuster allowing to use Pup Packs
Pinup Popper
This is a Front end for Virtual Pinball. It allows to organize, manage and launch tables from the front end.
Playfield
This is where the actual game action is displayed. Also used to describe the monitor used to display the play area.
Q
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R
Relay Board
A relay board is used to control your toys. DOF will tell the relay board like a Sainsmart to turn it on or off. A Relay board like the Sainsmart does not require booster boards.
Resistor
Resistors are used for many purposes. A few examples include limiting electric current, voltage division, heat generation, matching and loading circuits, gain control
Rigmaster
This is a DOF Compatible board allowing to control all your Toys on a cabinet. This uses a KL25Z board and expands the number of outputs.
RJ45
This is a Ethernet cable ( Internet cable ) There are different models like cat5 and cat6
ROM
Roms are typically required to run tables that are using Vpinmame. A rom contains the code required for the table to function. It includes sounds, effects and score.
S
Solenoids
This is a mechanical device used to make noise and mimic the bumpers and flippers on a real pinball.
T
Teensy
This is a circuit board used to control Addressable LED in a virtual pinball cabinet
Terminal Block
A terminal block (terminal strip) is a modular, insulated block which connects one or more circuits to another. The connections are typically made by a screw or a clamp
Tilt Bob
old school tilt bobs used primarily in pinball machines. They rely simply on the swinging bob making contact with the lower ring to close a circuit, which can then be used to send a signal to your software to tell the game to tilt.
Toys
In virtual pinball , we are referring to toys as physical feedback devices such as solenoids, shaker motor, blower fan, gear motor, beacons, strobes, flashers lights
U
Unblocking
Downloaded zip files can be ‘Blocked’ by Windows and this can prevent an executable, such as most of the Virtual Pinball software from running correctly. To avoid this, the zip file should first be ‘Unblocked.’To ‘Unblock’ a zip file, right-click on the file and choose properties. Then check the unblock at the bottom and apply.
V-Z
Visual Pinball
Virtual Pinball X software. Also referred as VPX
VPX
This is a file extension for visual pinballX software.
VR
Vitual Reality
Wemos
This is a circuit board used to control Addressable LED in a virtual pinball cabinet
Zero delay board
This is a small USB board allowing to connect buttons and map them.