Thank you all for your replies and suggestions. I've decided to go with a PIC.
I have received additional specs and also have more questions
Data reception:
The data will not be received by a standard PC but by a "DAS", data acquisition system (stand alone chassis based pc with linux OS). The DAS has serial RS-232 inputs (EIA-232-D) with the following config options:
"Bit rate options include 9600, 14400, 19200, 28800, 38400, 57600 and 115200 bps. Parity options are none, even, and odd. The number of stop bits may be set to either 1 or 2. The number of data bits is fixed at 8."
There are 3 protocols: ASCII, Binary and raw. For simplicity's sake and to allow the time stamping of data i will go with ASCII. The ASCII protocol has features such as preamble bytes, offset and block length. Hardware handshaking is recommended but not required (i am sending data to the DAS 24 times per second).
Question 1: I presume it if helpful if i choose a PIC with an UART and an internal clock for the baud rate, I've searched for PICs and read posts asking for recommendations but am somewhat lost in all the choices. Which PIC would be a good choice? The program won't be too big and i am looking for the minimum pins (at least 3 pins input to the PIC + pins for the serial communication). A PIC with online resources and tutorials would also be helpful. I will address the selection of a PIC programmer later when i've had time to research the choices...
Question 2: Because data sent to the DAS is only a few bytes, and at 24hz, i believe i don't have to use hardware flow control. In case i must had flow control, only the CTS/RTS lines are required so everything still fits on one MAX232 chip? Am i forgetting other required control lines?
Data output from the sensor
Output is balanced differential signal (and return) on a twisted pair coming from a fairchild 9614 differential line driver. Voltages are ttl levels ( 2.4 to 4.5v for '1' and -2.4 to -4.5v for '0').
Question 3: Here i presume i need to use a differential line receiver IC to interface with the PIC, correct? I've found the
SN65LBC175. Would this be a decent choice or are there cheaper options? I have three signals (clock, ready and data) to convert.
Thanks again for your time!
(Edit: I've checked in the sensor's specs and the protocol used for data output is not named anywhere)