However, the use of DC/DC converters poses an interesting challenge in terms of EMI mitigation. Good EMI design principles recommend that EMI be treated as near as possible to the source to preclude entry of unwanted EMI into the local environment, thereby minimizing the risk of interference. However, components and devices requiring the use of heat sinks are not well-suited for protective treatment for EMI at the source, because such treatment would interfere with the operation of the heat sink. The heat sink should be in intimate contact with the electronic component to provide a thermal conduction path and also be open to the surrounding environment to allow for the heat sink to function through convective heat transfer. This causes a major problem for many designers of set-top boxes and presents some unique design problems which limit product performance.