US Patent 10016932 Fiber placement system and method with modulated laser scan heating

A fiber placement system including a compaction roller rotatable about an axis of rotation, the compaction roller at least partially defining a compaction nip region, and a laser heating assembly including a laser that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation and a scan head defining a scan field, the scan field being aligned with the compaction nip region, wherein the scan head scans the beam within the scan field.