By means of Reiji Murai and Sophie Knight TOKYO (Reuters) – Sony Corp may purchase a Jap manufacturing unit from chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp to lift manufacturing of its imaging sensors as demand rises from smartphone makers, sources advised Reuters on Wednesday. Imaging sensors had been a rare success for Sony, which has come to dominate the CMOS sector, claiming a 3rd of the market in 2012 consistent with analysis firm Techno Techniques Analysis. Sony’s CEO, Kazuo Hirai, has recognized the sensors as probably the most pillars of his firm’s revival. The global CMOS sensor market is forecast to develop 60 p.c over the next five years to 2017 to $12.28 billion, according to Techno Systems Analysis, as demand for smartphones continues to amplify, in particular in China.