Patent ID: 8292449

Claim:
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; and a 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.