PALO ALTO, Calif. — Tesla Inc. has filed a patent for colored variants of solar shingles.

The patent, published Nov. 22,  is titled “Uniformly and Directionally Colored Photovoltaic Modules.”

Among other things, it notes solar shingles are typically blue, dark blue, or black due to the natural color of solar cells.

It also identifies the need for more color options based on the desires of homeowners.

The patent does acknowledge existing ways to offer color solar shingles, but claims the way they are made essentially reduce the amount of energy that can be captured and converted into power.

As Teslarati first reported, “Tesla’s system for its colored Solar Roof tiles utilizes a rather clever system to avoid the drawbacks of conventional PV module coloration methods. Instead of using traditional solutions like tinted glass, Tesla’s design employs a texturized surface of a glass cover that has a color filter layer, as well as a ‘transparent material with a predetermined refractive index.’”

Per the patent, the color shingles are able to display a uniform color in a more efficient and eye-pleasing manner.

As Roofing Contractor reported in August, Tesla plans to ramp up production of its solar shingles.

“We are steadily ramping Solar Roof production in Buffalo and are also continuing to iterate on the product design and production process, learning from our early factory production and field installations,” the company said in its letter accompanying second quarter results. “We have deployed Solar Roof on additional homes in Q2 and are gaining valuable feedback from each new installation. We plan to ramp production more toward the end of 2018 and are working hard to simplify the production and installation process before deploying significant capital into factory automation.”

According to the Tesla website, the company’s “Solar Roof complements your home’s architecture while turning sunlight into electricity. With an integrated Powerwall battery, energy collected during the day is stored and made available any time, effectively turning your home into a personal utility. Glass solar tiles are so durable they are warrantied for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first."