I'm not a lawyer, but I will note that when I've patented things in the past, I usually discover better things in the years after the original patent is filed.

I'm not a lawyer, but I will note that when I've patented things in the past, I usually discover better things in the years after the original patent is filed. These better things might be a new "best mode", and I might patent them or keep them as a trade secret. My lawyer says that's fine.