The report that Sony was to acquire Toshiba’s imaging sensor chip business highlighted the significant shift that the Japanese company is making, away from smartphones themselves and towards mobile components. This refocus is mirrored at Samsung, and both companies, which have been hit hard in recent quarters by the squeeze on the smartphone market, showed signs of recovery with profitable quarterly results. The Toshiba deal will enable Sony to expand on its lead in mobile camera chips. The companies confirmed this week that they were negotiating the deal and would have terms in place by year end, but did not reveal financial details. Sources indicated to Reuters that Sony would pay about ¥20bn ($165.7m) to gain Toshiba’s smartphone and digital…