US Patent 9848370 Satellite beamforming

A beam former processor receives a group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in an antenna array. The beam former processor determines terrestrial regions for transmitting the group of signals. The beam former processor identifies a subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the terrestrial regions. The beam former processor controls the switching circuitry to route the group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the terrestrial regions based on the group of signals.