def get_pickle_digital_pot():
  try:
    vr = pickle.load( open( digital_pot_pickle_file,  "rb" ) )
  except:
    vr = voltage_regulator.voltage_regulator()

  return vr 
def update_voltage(voltage):
  pass
  #print 'voltage updated'

  # make an instance of the voltage_regulator class to handle the connection
  vr = voltage_regulator.voltage_regulator()
  vr = get_pickle_digital_pot()

  # ask vr to set the voltage to the given value
#  vr.set_voltage(voltage)

  # update pickled information
  ###set_pickle_digital_pot(vr)

  # preform cleanup actions
  vr.close_regulator()