Sony is reportedly aiming at buying a Renesas Electronics' chip fab in order to convert it into an image sensor production site. According to a Tuesday report by The Nikkei, the the two sides are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding as early as the beginning of next week. Sony plans to acquire shares in the Renesas unit that operates the Tsuruoka plant in Yamagata Prefecture by March 31.

Sony plans to use the plant to fabricate CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensors, a key component that determines the quality of images shot on smartphones and digital cameras. Sony's sensors can be found in Apple's iPhone and other smartphones.

Renesas has alreay received an investment from the government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan. It had announced earlier that it will shut down its Yamagata plant, which has a low operating rate, within two to three years.