USE OF I2C-BASED POTENTIOMETERS TO ENABLE VOLTAGE RAIL VARIATION UNDER BMC CONTROL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voltage margin testing system incorporated in an electronic system, such as, a computer system, having a plurality of components. SOLUTION: The voltage margin testing system of the invention can include a controller, such as a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), having a plurality of components for at least some of which voltage margin testing is required and being internal to the computer system, and a digital voltage adjuster, e.g., a digital potentiometer, that is in communication with the controller. The voltage adjuster can effect generation of one or more test voltages, for example, by varying resistance in a feedback circuitry of a regulator whose output voltage is supplied to system components, for application to the components in response to commands from the controller. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI