Abstract: An improved antenna beam forming system 10 for generating a set of directed beams wherein each beam may include carrier signals of more than one frequency is disclosed herein. The improved beam forming system of the present invention includes a first beam forming network 20 for providing a first set of signals. The first beam forming network 20 includes a plurality of phase shifting elements 22 for providing a first phase relationship among the first set of signals in response to first carrier signal of a first frequency. The system 10 of the present invention further includes a second beam forming network 30 for providing a second set of signals. The second beam forming network includes a plurality of phase shifting elements 32 for again providing the first phase relationship among the second set of signals in response to a second carrier signal of a second frequency.

Abstract: A steerable beam antenna system for use in satellite communication systems and including a main reflector and an antenna array having a plurality of feed elements is disclosed. The antenna array is positionable at or near at least one focal point of the main reflector, and its feed elements can receive microwaves from or transmit microwaves toward the main reflector. A Butler matrix having multiple input ports and multiple outputs is connected to the array of feed elements and substantially performs a spatial Fourier transformation on a generated set of signals to be transmitted which have a predetermined phase relationship between the signals, which is necessary to create the steerable beam. The Butler matrix also can perform an inverse spatial transformation on a set of incoming signals focused on the array by the reflector and received by the feed elements.