  This work proposes a maximum likelihood (ML)-based parameter estimation
framework for a millimeter wave (mmWave) integrated sensing and communication
(ISAC) system in a multi-static configuration using energy-efficient hybrid
digital-analog arrays. Due to the typically large arrays deployed in the higher
frequency bands to mitigate isotropic path loss, such arrays may operate in the
near-field regime. The proposed parameter estimation in this work consists of a
two-stage estimation process, where the first stage is based on far-field
assumptions, and is used to obtain a first estimate of the target parameters.
In cases where the target is determined to be in the near-field of the arrays,
a second estimation based on near-field assumptions is carried out to obtain
more accurate estimates. In particular, we select beamfocusing array weights
designed to achieve a constant gain over an extended spatial region and
re-estimate the target parameters at the receivers. We evaluate the
effectiveness of the proposed framework in numerous scenarios through numerical
simulations and demonstrate the impact of the custom-designed flat-gain
beamfocusing codewords in increasing the communication performance of the
system.
