M406826 五、新型說明： 【新型所屬之技術領域】 本創作是有關於一種電連接器，特別是有關於一種 可防止電磁波干擾並且具有卡扣機構的電連接器。 【先前技術】 按，電連接器係一種以電氣方式連接電線、電路板 和其他電路元件的連接裝置。因此，廣泛地運用於吾 人生活周遭之各種電子產品，例如筆記本型電腦、手 機以及個人數位助理器（PDA)等。 一般的電連接器係焊固於電路板上，俾利用其連接 端子與電路板上經電路佈局之接觸端接觸，以形成電 氣連接，然而在某些運用上，電連接器係作為固定另 一電路元件，例如固定軟性排線的用途。因此，電連 接器係介於軟性排線及印刷電路板之間，俾作為電氣 訊號之轉接。 一般傳統用來固定軟性排線之電連接器，其結構主 要包括有絕緣本體、複數導電端子以及上蓋，上蓋可 相對於絕緣本體旋轉移動而產生開啟與閉合的狀態， 當上蓋開啟時，可將軟性排線插入於絕緣本體中，當 上蓋閉合時，可將軟性排線電性搭接於導電端子上並 且固定於絕緣本體内。 3 M406826 然而，此種用來固定軟性排線之電連接器由於沒有 設置其他的輔助結構來減少電磁波的干擾（EMI)，所 以電連接器中所傳遞之電氣訊號很容易受到外界環境 的影響而導致雜訊過大，進而影響電氣訊號的傳遞， 導致產生客訴的問題。 【新型内容】 習知電連接器之結構對於防止電磁波干擾的成效 不佳，導致電連接器之電氣訊號很容易受到外界電磁 波干擾的影響，使得電氣訊號的傳遞效果變差，進而 導致產生客訴的問題。 本創作提供一種電連接器，包括絕緣本體、複數導 電端子以及金屬殼體，其中絕緣本體具有一容置空 間、複數個端子插槽以及至少一凹槽，容置空間位於 絕緣本體之前侧，凹槽位於絕緣本體之後側，且凹槽 連通於容置空間。複數導電端子安裝於該些端子插槽 中，金屬殼體自絕緣本體之後側組裝於絕緣本體上， 其中金屬殼體包括一上殼以及相對於上殼設置之一下 殼，上殼與下殼之間形成一開口可容納絕緣本體，金 屬殼體設有至少一止退部、一回彈部、一操作部以及 一連動部，回彈部組裝於凹槽内且位於上殼與下殼之 間，止退部自回彈部延伸設置於容置空間内，操作部 連接於上殼且位於絕緣本體之上方，連動部連接於操 作部且朝該下殼延伸。 4 M406826 本創作所提供電連接器，其係在絕緣本體上包覆一 金屬殼體’之後再透過此金屬殼體之接地部接地设女 此可達成防止外界電錢干擾的效果，以解決習° 連接器容易受到外界電磁波干擾而導致客訴的問題。 此外在金屬殼體上還設有止退部 '回彈部、操作邛 以及連動部，可用來取代習知電連接器之上蓋來達^ 卡扣固定以及釋放軟性傳輸單元的目的。 【實施方式】 睛參照第-圖至第八圖，本創作提供一種電連接 器，此電連接器1包含絕緣本體2、複數導電端子3、 金屬殼體4以及軟性傳輸單元5，其中絕緣本體2具 有-容置空間20、設於容置空間2()之複數個端子插 槽26以及凹槽28，容置空間2〇位於絕緣本體2之前 側，凹槽28位於絕緣本體2之後側，且凹槽烈連通 於容置空間20。複數導電端子3安裝於該些端子插押 26中，金屬殼體4自絕緣本體2之後側組裝於絕緣^ 體2上’其中金屬殼體4包括-上殼41以及相對於上 殼41设置之-下殼42，上殼41與下殼42之間形成 -開口 40可容納絕緣本體2，金屬殼體4設有—止退 部46、一回彈部47、—連動部48以及一操作部49， 該回彈部47組裝於凹槽28内且位於上殼41與下殼 42之間，止退部46自回彈部47延伸設置於容置空間 5 M406826 20内，操作部49連接於上殼41且位於絕緣本體2之 上方，連動部48連接於操作部49且朝下殼42延伸。 絕緣本體2包括一上壁2卜一下壁22、一後壁23、 一左壁24以及一右壁25，後壁23、左壁24與右壁 25設置於下壁22與上壁21之間以形成容置空間20。 金屬殼體4包括上殼41、下殼42以及後殼44,上殼 41覆蓋於上壁21上，下殼42覆蓋於下壁22上，後 殼44覆蓋於後壁23上，金屬殼體4係幾乎整個包覆 絕緣本體2，如此可得到較佳之防止電磁波干擾的效 果，後壁23上設有複數開孔200貫通後壁23連通至 容置空間20，後殼44上設有複數彈性臂45，彈性臂 45係可穿過後壁23上之開孔200延伸至容置空間20 内，操作部49朝遠離上壁21之方向延伸。在本實施 例中，金屬殼體4上所設置之上殼41、彈性臂45、下 殼42、止退部46、回彈部47、連動部48以及操作部 49係為金屬沖壓一體成型之結構，且其彎折延伸的形 狀結構有利於將金屬殼體4組裝固定於絕緣本體2 上，可以減少製程步驟與製造成本。 在本實施例中，連動部48位於絕緣本體2之後方， 連動部48位於操作部49以及回彈部47之間，連動部 48與回彈部47之間形成一間隙6，回彈部47連接於 下殼42且止退部46形成於回彈部47上。連動部48 朝絕緣本體2後側之凹槽28延伸設置，一彎折部43 連接操作部49以及連動部48，一折抵部480設置於 6 M406826 連動部48的末端，該折抵部480可增加與回彈部47 ' 之間的施力作用效果，其中絕緣本體2後側設有一凹 陷部27，連動部48係朝前下方傾斜延伸抵靠於凹陷 % 部27。當操作部49受到按壓力向下移動時，連接操 • 作部49之彎折部43同時也帶動連動部48向下移動， 該凹陷部27係可導引連動部48向下移動至接近於凹 槽28，並使連動部48末端之折抵部480可以接觸抵 壓於回彈部47，藉以使回彈部47也跟著向下移動而 # 產生彈性變形。回彈部47包括朝前上方傾斜延伸之一 傾斜段474以及朝後方水平延伸之一水平段472，傾 斜段474連接於下殼42且止退部46形成於水平段472 上。受到折抵部480抵壓之回彈部47的水平段472會 向下移動產生變形，同時使得連接於水平段472之止 退部46也跟著向下移動而離開其所佔據的容置空間 20,如此可讓軟性傳輸單元5順利插入容置空間20内。 軟性傳輸單元5自絕緣本體2之前側插入於容置空 * 間20内，其中軟性傳輸單元5設有一缺口 50，當將 施加於操作部49上的按壓力移除時，產生彈性變形之 回彈部47會將自身的彈力位能轉換成向上移動的動 能而回復到原先的位置，同時形成於水平段472上之 止退部46也會跟著向上移動而回復到其原先在容置 空間20所佔據的位置，此時金屬殼體4之止退部46 係剛好可干涉卡合於缺口 50，藉以將軟性傳輸單元5 固定於絕緣本體2上。在本實施例中，止退部46係為 7 ::上ώ起之卡合部，其中向上凸起之卡合部之一側 :’、斜面’另一側則為垂直面的金屬彈片結構，如此 戎計可利於干涉卡合於軟性傳輸單元5之缺口 50並避 ^卡合後鬆脫的問題。在本實施例中，此凹槽28係自 絕緣本體2之後側延伸貫穿絕緣本體2之前側與底 側，然不限於此，此凹槽28亦可以選 緣本體2之前側與底側。 穿'‘邑 導電端子3之一端具有一接觸端32，導電端子3 之另一端具有—焊接端34，接觸端32位於容置空間 如内，焊接端34延伸凸出於絕緣本體2外。在本實 ^例中’位於容置空間2〇中之導電端子3的接觸端 係與軟性傳輸單元5電性連接，凸出於絕緣本體2 外之^端子3的焊接端34係與電路板（未緣示）焊 ，固疋。在本實施例中，軟性傳輸單元5面對於彈性 f 45之頂面上設有一金屬層52,金屬層52係與彈性 1 45搭接，軟性傳輸單元5面對於導電端子3之接觸 端32 a有導體接點（未纟會示），該導體接點係與接觸 端32搭接。在本實施例中，此軟性傳輸單元5係為軟 性排線（FFC)，此金屬層52係為鋁，然不限於此， 軟性傳輸單it 5亦可為軟性印刷電路板⑽），此金 屬層52亦可為銀膠塗層。接著再透過金屬殼體*之接 地β (未標π)接地’如此即可達到電連接器1之防 止電磁波干擾的目的。 請參照第九第十1,本創作提供另 此電連接器7包含絕緣本體72、複數導電= ^屬威體74以及軟性傳輸單^ 75，其中電連接 1與上述之電連接器1的主要差別在於電連接哭7 ^動部78係連接於回彈部77，而電連接器！的連 動部48與回彈部47之間形成間隙6,此外，電連接 器7之回彈部77只包括朝前方水平延伸之一水平段 772 ’止退部76形成於該水平段772上，並且沒有設 置如電連接器1所示的傾斜段474。電連接器7之‘ 動部78係位於絕緣本體72之後方，連動部78位於操 =部79 α及回彈部77之間’其餘部份結構與電連接 杰1類似’故不再贅述。 变綜上所述，本創作之電連接器其係在絕緣本體上包 後金屬殼體，湘此金屬㈣之彈性臂搭接於軟性 :專輸早元上之金屬層，之後再透過此金屬殼體之接地 邛接地，如此可達成防止外界電磁波干擾的效果，以 解決習知電it奸外界料奸擾而導致客 诉的問題。料，此金屬殼體上還設有—體成型之止 退部、回彈部、操作部以及連動部，可用來取代習知 電連接器之上蓋來達到卡扣固定與釋放軟性傳輸單元 的目的。因此，本創作之電連接器的金屬殼體同時具 f防止外界電磁波干擾以及干涉固定與釋放軟性傳輸 單70的雙重功能，如此可大幅降低產品的製造成本並 且提高產品的競爭力。 M406826 上述詳細說明為針對本創作一種較佳之可行實施 例說明而已，惟該實施例並非用以限定本創作之申請 專利範圍，凡其它未脫離本創作所揭示之技藝精神下 所完成之均等變化與修飾變更，均應包含於本創作所 涵蓋之專利範圍中。 【圖式簡單說明】 第一圖係本創作之電連接器尚未組合軟性傳輸單元的立體示 意圖。 第二圖係第一圖之電連接器在另一方向的立體示意圖。 第三圖係第二圖中之電連接器的立體分解示意圖。 第四圖係第二圖中之電連接器沿AA線段的剖面示意圖。 第五圖係第二圖中之電連接器沿BB線段的剖面示意圖。 第六圖係第三圖中之絕緣本體的立體示意圖。 第七圖係第六圖中之絕緣本體在另一方向的立體示意圖。 第八圖係第三圖中之金屬殼體的立體示意圖。 第九圖係本創作之另一電連接器尚未組合軟性傳輸單元的立 體示意圖。 第十圖係第九圖中之電連接器的立體分解示意圖。 第十一圖係第十圖中之金屬殼體的立體示意圖。 【主要元件符號說明】 1 電連接器 2 絕緣本體 10 M406826 容置空間 開孔 上壁 下壁 後壁 左壁 右壁 端子插槽 凹陷咅P 凹槽 導電端子 接觸端 焊接端 金屬殼體 開口 上殼 下殼 彎折部 後殼 彈性臂 止退部 回彈部 水平段 傾斜段 M406826M406826 V. New description: [New technical field] This work is about an electrical connector, especially an electrical connector that can prevent electromagnetic interference and has a snap mechanism. [Prior Art] Press, an electrical connector is a connecting device that electrically connects wires, boards, and other circuit components. Therefore, it is widely used in various electronic products around our lives, such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). A typical electrical connector is soldered to a circuit board, and its connection terminal is in contact with the contact end of the circuit board through the circuit layout to form an electrical connection. However, in some applications, the electrical connector is fixed as another Circuit components, such as the use of fixed flexible cables. Therefore, the electrical connector is between the flexible cable and the printed circuit board, and is used as an electrical signal. The electrical connector generally used for fixing a flexible cable has a structure mainly comprising an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals and an upper cover. The upper cover can be rotated and moved relative to the insulating body to open and close. When the upper cover is opened, the upper cover can be opened. The flexible cable is inserted into the insulative housing. When the upper cover is closed, the flexible cable can be electrically connected to the conductive terminal and fixed in the insulating body. 3 M406826 However, the electrical connector for fixing the flexible cable is not easily provided with other auxiliary structures to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI), so the electrical signal transmitted in the electrical connector is easily affected by the external environment. As a result, the noise is too large, which in turn affects the transmission of electrical signals, resulting in customer complaints. [New content] The structure of the conventional electrical connector is not effective in preventing electromagnetic wave interference, and the electrical signal of the electrical connector is easily affected by external electromagnetic wave interference, which makes the transmission effect of the electrical signal worse, which leads to the generation of customer complaints. The problem. The present invention provides an electrical connector, including an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive terminals, and a metal housing. The insulative housing has a receiving space, a plurality of terminal slots, and at least one recess. The receiving space is located on the front side of the insulative housing. The slot is located at a rear side of the insulative housing, and the recess communicates with the receiving space. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted in the terminal slots, and the metal shell is assembled to the insulative housing from the rear side of the insulative housing, wherein the metal housing includes an upper shell and a lower shell disposed opposite the upper shell, the upper shell and the lower shell Forming an opening to accommodate the insulative housing, the metal housing is provided with at least one retreating portion, a resilient portion, an operating portion and a linking portion, and the resilient portion is assembled in the recess and located between the upper shell and the lower shell The retaining portion extends from the resilient portion in the accommodating space, and the operating portion is coupled to the upper casing and above the insulating body, and the linking portion is coupled to the operating portion and extends toward the lower casing. 4 M406826 The electrical connector provided by this creation is covered with a metal shell on the insulating body and then grounded through the grounding part of the metal casing to achieve the effect of preventing external electricity money interference. ° The connector is susceptible to external electromagnetic interference and causes complaints. In addition, the metal housing is provided with a retreating portion, a rebound portion, an operating portion, and a linking portion, which can be used to replace the upper cover of the conventional electrical connector to achieve the purpose of fastening and releasing the flexible transmission unit. [Embodiment] Referring to Figures - 8 through 8, the present invention provides an electrical connector 1 comprising an insulative housing 2, a plurality of conductive terminals 3, a metal housing 4, and a flexible transmission unit 5, wherein the insulative body 2 having a accommodating space 20, a plurality of terminal slots 26 disposed in the accommodating space 2 (), and a recess 28, the accommodating space 2 〇 is located on the front side of the insulative housing 2, and the recess 28 is located at the rear side of the insulative housing 2, And the groove is strongly connected to the accommodating space 20. A plurality of conductive terminals 3 are mounted in the terminal pins 26, and the metal casing 4 is assembled on the insulating body 2 from the rear side of the insulating body 2, wherein the metal casing 4 includes an upper casing 41 and is disposed relative to the upper casing 41. a lower case 42 formed between the upper case 41 and the lower case 42. The opening 40 can accommodate the insulative housing 2, and the metal case 4 is provided with a retaining portion 46, a resilient portion 47, a linking portion 48 and an operating portion. 49. The rebound portion 47 is assembled in the recess 28 and located between the upper casing 41 and the lower casing 42. The retaining portion 46 extends from the rebound portion 47 in the accommodating space 5 M406826 20, and the operating portion 49 is connected to The upper case 41 is located above the insulative housing 2, and the interlocking portion 48 is coupled to the operating portion 49 and extends toward the lower case 42. The insulative housing 2 includes an upper wall 2, a lower wall 22, a rear wall 23, a left wall 24 and a right wall 25. The rear wall 23, the left wall 24 and the right wall 25 are disposed between the lower wall 22 and the upper wall 21. To form the accommodating space 20. The metal casing 4 includes an upper casing 41, a lower casing 42 and a rear casing 44. The upper casing 41 covers the upper wall 21, the lower casing 42 covers the lower wall 22, and the rear casing 44 covers the rear wall 23, and the metal casing 4 is almost entirely covered with the insulating body 2, so that the electromagnetic wave interference can be better prevented. The rear wall 23 is provided with a plurality of openings 200 extending through the rear wall 23 to the accommodating space 20, and the rear shell 44 is provided with a plurality of elastics. The arm 45 and the elastic arm 45 extend through the opening 200 in the rear wall 23 into the accommodating space 20, and the operating portion 49 extends away from the upper wall 21. In the present embodiment, the upper casing 41, the elastic arm 45, the lower casing 42, the retaining portion 46, the rebound portion 47, the interlocking portion 48, and the operating portion 49 are provided in the metal casing 4 to be integrally formed by metal stamping. The structure and the bent and extended shape structure facilitate assembly and fixing of the metal casing 4 to the insulative housing 2, which can reduce the manufacturing steps and manufacturing costs. In this embodiment, the interlocking portion 48 is located behind the insulative housing 2, the linking portion 48 is located between the operating portion 49 and the rebounding portion 47, and a gap 6 is formed between the linking portion 48 and the resilient portion 47. The rebound portion 47 is formed. It is connected to the lower case 42 and the retaining portion 46 is formed on the rebound portion 47. The interlocking portion 48 extends toward the groove 28 on the rear side of the insulative housing 2, a bent portion 43 connects the operating portion 49 and the linking portion 48, and a folding portion 480 is disposed at the end of the 6 M406826 linking portion 48, the folding portion 480 The effect of the force application with the rebound portion 47' can be increased, wherein the rear side of the insulative housing 2 is provided with a recessed portion 27, and the interlocking portion 48 is inclined to abut the lower front portion 27 against the recessed portion 27. When the operating portion 49 is moved downward by the pressing force, the bending portion 43 of the connecting operation portion 49 also drives the interlocking portion 48 to move downward, and the recessed portion 27 guides the linking portion 48 to move downward to be close to The recess 28 and the deflecting portion 480 at the end of the interlocking portion 48 can be brought into contact with the rebound portion 47, whereby the rebound portion 47 is also moved downward to be elastically deformed. The rebound portion 47 includes an inclined portion 474 that extends obliquely toward the front upper side and a horizontal portion 472 that extends horizontally toward the rear, the inclined portion 474 is coupled to the lower casing 42 and the retaining portion 46 is formed on the horizontal portion 472. The horizontal section 472 of the rebound portion 47 which is pressed by the folding portion 480 is moved downward to generate deformation, and the stop portion 46 connected to the horizontal portion 472 is also moved downward to leave the accommodating space 20 occupied thereby. Thus, the flexible transmission unit 5 can be smoothly inserted into the accommodating space 20. The flexible transmission unit 5 is inserted into the accommodation space 20 from the front side of the insulative housing 2, wherein the flexible transmission unit 5 is provided with a notch 50, which is elastically deformed when the pressing force applied to the operation portion 49 is removed. The spring portion 47 converts its own elastic position energy into an upward moving kinetic energy and returns to the original position, and the stop portion 46 formed on the horizontal portion 472 also moves upward to return to its original accommodation space 20 . The occupied position, at this time, the retaining portion 46 of the metal casing 4 is just in interference with the notch 50, thereby fixing the flexible transmission unit 5 to the insulative housing 2. In this embodiment, the retaining portion 46 is a snap-up portion of 7:upper uplift, wherein one side of the upwardly convex engaging portion: ', the inclined side' is a vertical metal fringe structure In this way, the problem of interference with the notch 50 of the flexible transmission unit 5 and avoiding loosening after the engagement can be facilitated. In this embodiment, the recess 28 extends from the rear side of the insulative housing 2 through the front side and the bottom side of the insulative housing 2. However, the recess 28 may also be selected from the front side and the bottom side of the main body 2. One end of the conductive terminal 3 has a contact end 32, the other end of the conductive terminal 3 has a soldering end 34, and the contact end 32 is located inside the receiving space, and the soldering end 34 extends outwardly from the insulating body 2. In the present embodiment, the contact end of the conductive terminal 3 located in the accommodating space 2 is electrically connected to the flexible transmission unit 5, and the soldering end 34 of the terminal 3 outside the insulating body 2 is connected to the circuit board. (not shown) welding, solid. In this embodiment, the flexible transmission unit 5 is provided with a metal layer 52 on the top surface of the elastic f 45, the metal layer 52 is overlapped with the elastic 1 45, and the flexible transmission unit 5 faces the contact end 32 a of the conductive terminal 3. There is a conductor contact (not shown) that overlaps the contact end 32. In this embodiment, the flexible transmission unit 5 is a flexible cable (FFC), and the metal layer 52 is aluminum. However, the flexible transmission unit 5 can also be a flexible printed circuit board (10). Layer 52 can also be a silver gel coating. Then, the grounding of the metal casing * (not labeled π) is grounded, so that the electrical connector 1 can be prevented from electromagnetic interference. Referring to the ninth and eleventh, the present invention provides another electrical connector 7 including an insulative housing 72, a plurality of electrically conductive bodies, a soft body 74, and a flexible transmission unit, wherein the electrical connection 1 and the electrical connector 1 are mainly The difference is that the electrical connection is crying 7 ^ The moving part 78 is connected to the rebound part 77, and the electrical connector! A gap 6 is formed between the interlocking portion 48 and the rebound portion 47. Further, the rebound portion 77 of the electrical connector 7 includes only one horizontal portion 772' extending horizontally toward the front, and the retaining portion 76 is formed on the horizontal portion 772. And the inclined section 474 as shown in the electrical connector 1 is not provided. The 'moving portion 78 of the electrical connector 7 is located behind the insulative housing 72, and the interlocking portion 78 is located between the operating portion 79 and the resilient portion 77. The rest of the structure is similar to that of the electrical connection 1 and will not be described again. In summary, the electrical connector of the present invention is attached to the metal body of the insulating body, and the elastic arm of the metal (4) is lapped to the soft layer: the metal layer on the early element is transmitted, and then the metal is passed through. The grounding of the casing is grounded, so that the effect of preventing electromagnetic interference from the outside can be achieved, so as to solve the problem of the customer complaint caused by the foreign material. The metal casing is further provided with a body-formed retaining portion, a rebound portion, an operating portion and a linking portion, which can be used to replace the upper cover of the conventional electrical connector to achieve the purpose of fastening and releasing the flexible transmission unit. . Therefore, the metal housing of the present electrical connector has both the function of preventing external electromagnetic interference and interfering with the dual function of fixing and releasing the flexible transmission unit 70, which can greatly reduce the manufacturing cost of the product and improve the competitiveness of the product. The above detailed description is a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and other equivalents are not changed from the spirit of the art disclosed in the present disclosure. Modifications should be included in the scope of the patent covered by this creation. [Simple description of the drawing] The first figure is a stereoscopic view in which the electrical connector of the present invention has not been combined with the flexible transmission unit. The second figure is a perspective view of the electrical connector of the first figure in another direction. The third figure is a perspective exploded view of the electrical connector in the second figure. The fourth figure is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in the second figure along the AA line segment. The fifth figure is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in the second figure along the BB line. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the insulative body in the third figure. The seventh figure is a perspective view of the insulating body in the sixth figure in another direction. The eighth figure is a perspective view of the metal casing in the third figure. The ninth figure is a schematic view of another electrical connector of the present invention in which the flexible transmission unit has not been combined. The tenth figure is a perspective exploded view of the electrical connector in the ninth diagram. The eleventh figure is a perspective view of the metal casing in the tenth figure. [Main component symbol description] 1 Electrical connector 2 Insulating body 10 M406826 accommodating space opening upper wall lower wall rear wall left wall right wall terminal slot recess 咅P groove conductive terminal contact end soldering end metal housing opening upper case Lower shell bending part rear shell elastic arm retaining part rebound section horizontal section inclined section M406826
48 連動部 480 折抵部 49 操作部 5 軟性傳輸單元 50 缺口 52 金屬層 6 間隙 7 電連接器 72 絕緣本體 73 導電端子 74 金屬殼體 75 軟性傳輸單元 76 止退部 77 回彈部 772 水平段 78 連動部 79 操作部48 Coupling part 480 Folding part 49 Operating part 5 Soft transfer unit 50 Notch 52 Metal layer 6 Gap 7 Electrical connector 72 Insulating body 73 Conductive terminal 74 Metal case 75 Soft transfer unit 76 Retreat part 77 Rebound part 772 Horizontal section 78 linkage 79 operation department