Abstract: An antenna system and method for transmitting or receiving a plurality of pixel beams of satellite communication signals. A focusing device (770) focuses pixel beams on individual antenna elements or horns (708 or 808) of the transmitter (700) or receiver (800). In the transmitter, each antenna element transmits a pixel beam, and in the receiver, each antenna element has focused on it an individual pixel beam.

Abstract: An apparatus (800) and method (1000) for forming a shapeable and directable composite beam (305) from a plurality of pixel beams (302). The apparatus (800) includes a front-end unit (810) which communicates element signals through antenna array elements (808). The apparatus (800) also includes a back-end unit (850) which forms the composite beam from a set of pixel beams by converting between a composite signal and a set of corresponding pixel signals. The back-end unit (850) further adjusts the amplitude and phase of the set of pixel signals to form the composite beam. The apparatus (800) further includes an interconnecting beamforming network (820) interposed between the back-end unit (850) and the front-end unit (810) which couples the back-end unit (850) to the front-end unit (810) by converting between the pixel signals of the back-end unit (850) and the element signals of the front-end unit (810). The method (1100) includes determining a desired shape and direction for the composite beam (1110).