MONITORED PATCH PANEL SYSTEM

A monitored fiber optic patch panel system is disclosed. The system includes a unit controller and at least one patch panel unit. The unit controller includes a computer, a graphic display, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub. The patch panel unit is connected to the USB hub and includes connectors configured to receive a corresponding optical fiber. Optical directional couplers are coupled to a corresponding one of the connectors, and photodiodes are positioned adjacent corresponding optical directional couplers to measure an optical power level conveyed on the corresponding optical fiber. A data acquisition device is connected to the photodiodes to capture data indicative of the optical power levels. A microcontroller is connected to the data acquisition device to store the data captured by the data acquisition device. The computer is configured to receive the stored data from the microcontroller, and to identify to which connectors optical fibers are connected.