I filed a patent application a month ago. Now I found a simpler way of doing very similar thing to what I had described, basically eliminating one of the main 3 blocks of the invention. So I'm going to file another patent application claiming priority to the first one. My disclosure was characterized as a preferred embodiment with multiple alternatives for the various aspects of the invention. I wonder what's the best approach to introduce this added matter:
- describe it as another alternative to one of the aspects of the invention. One of the blocks is optional, that will involve some small changes elsewhere to get similar results, not exactly the same.
- describe it as a separate new embodiment of the invention. All is the same as the preferred embodiment with exception of the removed block, small changes elsewhere, and slightly different outcome.
Is there any advantage to one or another?
Also, I wonder, if what the invention does is similar but different, at what point would a that become a new invention?