This paper examines the use of inverse mapping for the design of electromag
netic devices whose performance is described by an artificial neural networ
k (ANN). In cases where the function describing the inverse problem is ill-
conditioned, it may be very difficult to train a neural network to learn th
e inverse problem. In these cases, an iterative method based on an inverse
mapping technique may be employed. When provided with the desired output ve
ctor, this method uses backpropagation to train (solve) for the unknown par
ameters in the input vector. The results of using the ANN based inverse map
ping approach in the design optimization of a hollow transmission line are
presented.