Patent ID: 7079036

Claim:
An electronic patient monitor for use in monitoring a patient, comprising: (a) a speaker; (b) an amplifier in electronic communication with said speaker, said amplifier at least for driving said speaker; (c) a sensor responsive to a status of the patient; (d) a CPU in electronic communication with said amplifier and with said sensor, wherein said CPU is at least for monitoring said status of the patient and sounding an alarm in response thereto; and, (e) computer storage in electronic communication with said CPU, said computer storage containing therein at least a plurality of computer instructions executable by said CPU, said plurality of computer instructions comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a volume level, (ii) selecting a duty cycle function corresponding to said selected volume level, (iii) determining an alarm type, (iv) obtaining alarm tone data corresponding to said alarm type, (v) pulse width modulating said alarm tone data with a series of square waves generated according to said duty cycle function, thereby producing a series of audio waves at least approximately representing said selected alarm type when broadcast through said speaker, and, (vi) transmitting said series of audio waves to said amplifier for broadcast through said speaker.