Patent ID: 7545549

Claim:
A light modulation device, comprising: i) a first reflecting body, which has semi-transmissive semi-reflective characteristics, ii) a light transmissive fine hole body having a plurality of fine holes, which are adapted to be filled with a light transmissive substance and have diameters sufficiently smaller than wavelengths of incident light, and iii) a second reflecting body, which has perfect reflective characteristics or semi-transmissive semi-reflective characteristics, the first reflecting body, the light transmissive fine hole body, and the second reflecting body being located in this order from a light incidence side, the light modulation device exhibiting absorption characteristics for absorbing light having a specific wavelength in accordance with a mean complex index of refraction of the first reflecting body, the mean complex index of refraction of the second reflecting body, and the mean complex index of refraction and a thickness of the light transmissive fine hole body, whereby the incident light is modulated due to the absorption characteristics, and modulated light is radiated out from the first reflecting body and/or the second reflecting body.