Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A modular light unit for illuminating a hazardous underwater environment, comprising:a housing having a front portion and a back shell portion, the front portion including a light transmissive window;a layered lighting assembly enclosed within the housing, the layered lighting assembly comprising:a printed circuit board comprising a dielectric layer having a lower surface, wherein a plurality of electrically-conductive traces is formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer;a plurality of LEDs in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically-conductive traces and in thermal communication with the lower surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array pattern;a thermal bridge abutting the lower surface of the printed circuit board in thermal communication therewith;a heat sink abutting the thermal bridge in thermal communication therewith;a thermally conductive potting material abutting the heat sink to fill all spaces between the heat sink and an inner surface of the back shell portion;a reflector array disposed over an upper surface of the printed circuit board, the reflector array having a pattern corresponding to the array pattern of the LEDs, wherein the reflector array has a reflector corresponding to each LED of the plurality of LEDs;an underwater connector in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive traces for releasable connection to an electrical cable for providing power to drive the plurality of LEDs; anda quick-release mechanical fastener attached to the housing for releasably attaching the modular light unit to a support structure installed within the hazardous underwater environment. 2. The modular light unit of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a metal base disposed on the lower surface of the dielectric layer. 3. The modular light unit of claim 2, wherein each of the metal base is formed from copper. 4. The modular light unit of claim 2, wherein each of the thermal bridge and the heat sink is formed from copper. 5. The modular light unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from stainless steel. 6. The modular light unit of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the back shell portion are attached together to form a watertight seal. 7. The modular light unit of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of ribs extending from a lower side of the heat sink, and the potting material fills all spaces between the plurality of ribs and the inner surface of the back shell portion. 8. The modular light unit of claim 1, further comprising a yoke pivotably attached to the housing, wherein the yoke comprises a quick-release connector for attachment to a support structure mounted within the hazardous underwater environment. 9. The modular light unit of claim 1, wherein the underwater connector is a wet-mateable connector. 10. A modular light unit for illuminating a hazardous underwater environment, comprising:a housing having a front portion and a back shell portion, the front portion including a light transmissive window;a yoke pivotably attached to the housing, wherein the yoke comprises a quick-release connector for attachment to a support structure mounted within the hazardous underwater environment;a layered lighting assembly enclosed within the housing, the layered lighting assembly comprising:a printed circuit board comprising a dielectric layer having a lower surface, wherein a plurality of electrically-conductive traces is formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer;a plurality of LEDs in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically-conductive traces and in thermal communication with the lower surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array pattern;a thermal bridge abutting the lower surface of the printed circuit board in thermal communication therewith;a heat sink abutting the thermal bridge in thermal communication therewith;a thermally conductive potting material abutting the heat sink to fill all spaces between the heat sink and an inner surface of the back shell portion; andan underwater connector in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive traces for releasable connection to an electrical cable associated with the support structure for providing power to drive the plurality of LEDs. 11. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a metal core printed circuit board having a thermally conductive metal base affixed to the lower surface of the dielectric layer. 12. The modular light unit of claim 11, wherein the metal base is formed from copper. 13. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein each of the thermal bridge and the heat sink is formed from copper. 14. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the housing is formed from stainless steel. 15. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the front portion and the back shell portion are attached together to form a watertight seal. 16. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of ribs extending from a lower side of the heat sink, and the potting material fills all spaces between the plurality of ribs and the inner surface of the back shell portion. 17. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the layered lighting assembly further comprises a reflector array disposed over an upper surface of the printed circuit board, the reflector array having a pattern corresponding to the array pattern of the LEDs, wherein the reflector array has a reflector corresponding to each LED of the plurality of LEDs. 18. The modular light unit of claim 10, wherein the underwater connector is a wet-mateable connector. 19. A rapid-changeout light assembly for attachment to and removal from a support structure disposed within a hazardous underwater environment, comprising:a housing having a front portion and a back shell portion, the front portion including a light transmissive window;a yoke pivotably attached to the housing, wherein the yoke comprises a quick-release connector for attachment to the support structure;a layered lighting assembly enclosed within the housing, the layered lighting assembly comprising:a printed circuit board comprising a dielectric layer disposed on a thermally-conductive metal base, wherein a plurality of electrically-conductive traces is formed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer;an array of LEDs in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically-conductive traces and in thermal communication with the metal base;a thermal bridge abutting the metal base in thermal communication therewith;a heat sink abutting the thermal bridge in thermal communication therewith;a thermally conductive potting material abutting the heat sink to fill all spaces between the heat sink and an inner surface of the back shell portion;a reflector array disposed over an upper surface of the printed circuit board, the reflector array corresponding to the array of the LEDs so that the reflector array has a reflector corresponding to each LED of the array of LEDs andan underwater connector in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive traces for releasable connection to an electrical cable associated with the support structure for providing power to drive the plurality of LEDs. 20. The rapid-changeout light assembly of claim 19, wherein the metal base is formed from copper. 21. The rapid-changeout light assembly of claim 19, wherein each of the thermal bridge and the heat sink is formed from copper. 22. The rapid-changeout light assembly of claim 19, wherein the housing is formed from stainless steel. 23. The rapid-changeout light assembly of claim 19, wherein the front portion and the back shell portion are attached together to form a watertight seal. 24. The rapid-changeout light assembly of claim 19, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of ribs extending from a lower side of the heat sink, and the potting material fills all spaces between the plurality of ribs and the inner surface of the back shell portion. 25. The modular light unit of claim 19, wherein the underwater connector is a wet-mateable connector.