{"id":6017,"date":"2026-10-18T14:10:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finloyd.com\/?p=6017"},"modified":"2026-10-18T14:11:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T14:11:00","slug":"cis-sensor-money-counting-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finloyd.com\/en\/cis-sensor-money-counting-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"What is CIS in Money Counting Machines? Single Vs Dual CIS for Saudi Riyals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quick answer:<\/strong> CIS (Contact Image Sensor) is a line-scan image sensor inside a money counting machine. It captures an image of every banknote as it passes through, so the machine can recognise the denomination, add up the total value of a mixed stack, read serial numbers and judge note condition. A machine with Dual CIS<\/strong> scans both sides of each note; a Single CIS<\/strong> machine scans one side. CIS is not a counterfeit detector on its own; it works alongside UV, magnetic (MG), infrared (IR) and ultrasonic (US) sensors.<\/p>\n\n

Finloyd has supplied money counting machines to banks, exchange houses and retailers in Saudi Arabia since 2008, from branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. This guide explains what CIS actually does with Saudi riyal notes, when you need it, and which machine fits your cash volume.<\/p>\n\n

What does CIS stand for?<\/h2>\n

CIS stands for Contact Image Sensor<\/strong>. It is a thin bar of tiny light sensors and LEDs, the same technology used in flatbed scanners, mounted across the note path. As each note moves past at up to 1,500 notes per minute, the sensor builds a full image of it line by line. The machine’s software then compares that image with the stored templates for each currency and denomination.<\/p>\n\n

How does a CIS money counter work, step by step?<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Feeding:<\/strong> the hopper pulls notes one at a time into the transport path.<\/li>\n
  2. Imaging:<\/strong> the CIS bar scans the note in colour (one side or both sides).<\/li>\n
  3. Recognition:<\/strong> software matches the image to a denomination, for example 50 SAR or 500 SAR, and to its face and orientation.<\/li>\n
  4. Authentication:<\/strong> UV, MG, MT, IR and US sensors check security features at the same moment.<\/li>\n
  5. Decision:<\/strong> genuine notes go to the stacker; suspect, unknown or damaged notes stop the machine or drop into a reject pocket.<\/li>\n
  6. Reporting:<\/strong> the screen shows the piece count, the total value and a breakdown per denomination, which can be printed or sent to a PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Why do Saudi riyal notes need an image sensor for mixed counting?<\/h2>\n

    Saudi banknotes are too close in size for a basic counter to tell them apart. According to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)<\/a>, the sixth-issue notes range from 145 mm to 166 mm wide:<\/p>\n\n \n
    Note<\/th>Size (mm)<\/th>Colour<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
    5 SAR (paper and polymer)<\/td>145 \u00d7 66<\/td>Purple<\/td><\/tr>\n
    10 SAR<\/td>150 \u00d7 68<\/td>Brown<\/td><\/tr>\n
    50 SAR<\/td>155 \u00d7 70<\/td>Green<\/td><\/tr>\n
    100 SAR<\/td>160 \u00d7 72<\/td>Red<\/td><\/tr>\n
    200 SAR (issued 2021)<\/td>163 \u00d7 73<\/td>Grey<\/td><\/tr>\n
    500 SAR<\/td>166 \u00d7 74<\/td>Blue<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    The 100, 200 and 500 SAR notes differ by only 3 mm each. A worn or slightly skewed note can blur that difference, so reliable mixed (total value) counting depends on reading the note’s image, colour and print, which is exactly what CIS does. The polymer 5 SAR note adds a transparent window, so make sure any machine you buy has firmware that recognises it.<\/p>\n\n

    Single CIS vs Dual CIS: what is the difference?<\/h2>\n\n \n
    <\/th>Single CIS<\/th>Dual CIS<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
    Sides scanned<\/td>One side<\/td>Both sides in one pass<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Mixed value counting<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes, more robust with worn notes<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Face and orientation sorting<\/td>Limited<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Fitness sorting (ATM-grade notes)<\/td>No<\/td>Yes, on fitness models<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Typical users<\/td>Shops, cashiers, small cash offices<\/td>Banks, exchange houses, cash centres, CIT<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Finloyd examples<\/td>Kisan K2<\/a><\/td>CX-7500<\/a>, Fin-7900<\/a>, Newton 3F<\/a>, K3-A<\/a>, K5-A<\/a>, K6<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

    CIS vs UV, MG, MT, IR and US: what does each sensor check?<\/h2>\n\n \n
    Sensor<\/th>Full name<\/th>What it checks<\/th>Main job<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
    CIS<\/td>Contact Image Sensor<\/td>Full-colour image of the note<\/td>Denomination, value counting, serial numbers, fitness<\/td><\/tr>\n
    UV<\/td>Ultraviolet<\/td>Fluorescent features and paper brightness<\/td>Counterfeit detection<\/td><\/tr>\n
    MG<\/td>Magnetic<\/td>Magnetic ink pattern (more channels = finer reading, e.g. 18-channel)<\/td>Counterfeit detection<\/td><\/tr>\n
    MT<\/td>Metal thread<\/td>Embedded security thread<\/td>Counterfeit detection<\/td><\/tr>\n
    IR<\/td>Infrared<\/td>Infrared-visible ink areas<\/td>Counterfeit detection<\/td><\/tr>\n
    US<\/td>Ultrasonic<\/td>Note thickness<\/td>Double notes, tape and repaired notes<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

    Does CIS detect counterfeit money?<\/h2>\n

    Not on its own.<\/strong> CIS recognises what a note looks like; counterfeit detection comes from UV, MG, MT and IR checks running at the same time. A good counterfeit can look right to an image sensor and still fail the magnetic or infrared test. That is why every Finloyd value counter combines CIS with at least UV, MG and IR. For spot checks at a till, a desktop fake note detector<\/a> is a low-cost add-on.<\/p>\n\n

    Can a CIS machine read serial numbers?<\/h2>\n

    Yes, when the model has serial number OCR. The CIS image is passed to OCR software that records each note’s serial number. In Finloyd’s range, the K2, Fin-7900, Newton 3F, K3-A, K5-A and K6 support serial number reading; the CX-7500 does not.<\/p>\n\n

    Which Finloyd money counting machines use CIS?<\/h2>\n\n \n
    Model<\/th>Counting type<\/th>Image sensor<\/th>Detection<\/th>Pockets<\/th>Best for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
    Fin-890<\/a><\/td>Sheet count<\/td>None<\/td>UV, MG<\/td>1<\/td>Small shops counting one denomination<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Fin-3100<\/a><\/td>Sheet count<\/td>None<\/td>UV, MG, MT<\/td>1<\/td>Heavy single-denomination counting (Korea)<\/td><\/tr>\n
    CX-7500<\/a><\/td>Mixed value<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG, MT, IR<\/td>1<\/td>Retail and supermarkets, 1,200 notes\/min value count<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan K2<\/a><\/td>Mixed value<\/td>Single CIS<\/td>UV, MG, IR, US<\/td>1+1 reject<\/td>Non-stop counting at busy cash desks<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan Newton-A<\/a><\/td>Mixed value<\/td>Image sensor<\/td>UV, MG, MT, IR<\/td>1+1 reject<\/td>Exchange houses, up to 20 currencies<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Fin-7900<\/a><\/td>Mixed value<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG 18ch, IR, US<\/td>1<\/td>Bank and cash-room counting with serial numbers (Korea)<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan Newton 3F<\/a><\/td>Value + fitness<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG 18ch, IR, US<\/td>1+1 reject<\/td>ATM-grade sorting, tape and dog-ear detection<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan K3-A<\/a><\/td>Fitness sorter<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG 18ch, IR, US<\/td>3<\/td>Bank tellers, cheque and voucher scanning<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan K5-A<\/a><\/td>Fitness sorter<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG 18ch, IR, US<\/td>4+1<\/td>Back office and cash-in-transit, up to 48 currencies<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Kisan K6 Strapper<\/a><\/td>Sort + band<\/td>Dual CIS<\/td>UV, MG 18ch, IR, US<\/td>4+2, up to 16<\/td>Cash centres: sorts and straps 100-note bundles<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Counting coins as well? The Fin-CC93 coin counter<\/a> handles riyal and halala coins.<\/p>\n\n

    Do you actually need a CIS machine?<\/h2>\n