Quiet electromechanical switch device

A switch device comprising:

• a housing including a hot terminal configured to be coupled to a source of AC power and at least one traveler terminal configured to be coupled to an electrical load;
• a switch input mechanism coupled to the housing at a first fixed axis of rotation, the switch input mechanism being configured to rotate a first angular amount in a first direction about the first fixed axis of rotation in response to a user actuation of the switch input mechanism, the switch input mechanism further including an interface portion disposed at an end thereof, the distance between the first fixed axis of rotation and the interface portion defining a first pivot arm length;
• a switch actuator coupled to the switch input mechanism at the interface portion and coupled to the housing at a second fixed axis of rotation, the switch actuator being configured to rotate a second angular amount in a second direction about the second fixed axis of rotation in response to the rotation of the switch input mechanism, the distance between the second fixed axis of rotation and the interface portion defining a second pivot arm length, the second angular amount being greater than the first angular amount and a function of the first pivot arm length and the second pivot arm length;
• and
• a set of switch contacts including at least one fixed contact coupled to the hot terminal and a movable contact connected to the at least one traveler terminal, the movable contact being separated from the at least one fixed contact by a predetermined minimum distance in response to a cam element disposed on the switch actuator rotating in a second direction, the predetermined minimum distance being a function of the first pivot arm length and the second pivot arm length.